[slidepress gallery=’womenssoccer-stbens-093009′]
Seniors Erin Sprangers and Kirsten Moran both scored a goal and led the women’s soccer team to a 2-0 win against St. Ben’s at home Wednesday. The victory ran St. Thomas’ winning streak to six games and its conference unbeaten streak to 17.
Strong defensive play by the Tommies led to its fifth shutout of the year. But it still took a while for St. Thomas to get things going Wednesday afternoon. St. Ben’s had several shots on the Tommie net in the first half before the Tommies managed to turn the game around.
Sprangers said the team has a trend of panicking in the first half and then turning the game around in the second half. Assistant coach Dan Weisz seconded the notion, pointing out St. Thomas’ anxious play in the first 20 minutes. “We need to improve our consistency,” he said.
Sprangers scored the game’s first goal shortly before halftime and the team regained some confidence going into the break. Sprangers said halftime helped the team’s composure, thanks in part to a strong speech by coach Sheila McGill. McGill told the women they needed to have self-pride, team pride and Tommie pride.
“After [halftime] we were motivated to [play] as a team,” she said. “Sheila is all about believing. She wants us to believe in it [winning] and in each other.”
In the second half, St. Thomas dominated the field with strong midfielder play supporting the forwards.
With 19 minutes to go, the Moran sisters connected on a corner kick goal. Sophomore Whitney Moran crossed it in front of St. Ben’s net, where senior Kirsten Moran headed it on by Blazers’ goalkeeper Maija Schmelzer.
St. Thomas dug in from there and held on for the win.
McGill said the team needs to improve its consistency throughout the whole game, noting that the players cannot wait until the second half to start picking it up.
St. Thomas is currently tied with Concordia-Moorhead for first place in the MIAC.
Next up for St. Thomas is a home game Oct. 3, against Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Rebekah Frank can be reached at rfrank@stthomas.edu