Clinical Second Half Helps (RV) Huskies Women’s Soccer Drop Marauders

Sunday, October 8

St. Cloud, Minn.

1:30 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

9-2-1, 6-1-1

Mary

2-6-3, 1-4-2

Mary

St. Cloud St.

Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl

Clinical Second Half Helps (RV) Huskies Women’s Soccer Drop Marauders

10/8/2023 5:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Second half goals from Quam and Trapino leads SCSU to 2-1 decision; Huskies close weekend leading NSIC with 19 conference points

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – (RV) St. Cloud State Women's Soccer (9-2-1, 6-1-1 NSIC) displayed their terrific resiliency on Sunday afternoon as the Huskies used a clinical second half to earn a 2-1 win over Mary (2-5-3, 1-4-2 NSIC) at Husky Stadium, closing Homecoming Weekend by taking all six available conference points. The Huskies moved into first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings with their three conference points earned on Sunday, leading the league with 19 points.

Critical half time adjustments were the story for St. Cloud State following a first half that saw their opponents lead 10-3 on shots with five Marauder shots on target compared to the Huskies' one. Mary struck first with a goal late in the 34^th minute and took a 1-0 lead into the half.

St. Cloud State rallied together with dominant possession in the second half, controlling the pace and direction over the final 45 minutes. SCSU led 7-1 on shots with six on target while the Marauders managed just once chance on freshman keeper Jaylee Strickland. The Huskies' standout in goal recorded five saves while earning her ninth win of the season.

Trailing 1-0 midway through the 51^st minute, junior defender Rheana Zerna moved with the ball across midfield and passed ahead to freshman forward Linsey Trapino. Gathering just outside the attacking third, Trapino drew in the Marauders' defensive midfielder as the right midfielder pressured in off her left shoulder. Trapino then sent an incredible through ball between the centerbacks, finding sophomore midfielder Brooke Quam on her way into the goal area. Quam gathered on entry, darted right to lose the lone wingback and made a strong move to beat the keeper with her right foot for her first goal of the season, drawing the match even at 1-1.

The Huskies continued to generate chances as the second half progressed, pressuring Mary's defense and maintaining excellent possession. With time ticking away late just into the 84^th minute, sophomore defender Ellie Primerano received an excellent pass from Quam to the right of the goal area. Primerano rifled the ball off her wingback to contest a tackle, then sent a touch pass to her left for Trapino. Dribbling left nearly 20 feet above the goal area, Trapino gathered and fired a jaw-dropping left-footed shot to the high left corner of the goal that sailed past the sprawling keeper for the go-ahead marker.

St. Cloud State continued to dominate possession for the final six minutes as they moved well in the attacking third to close out the 2-1 win.

NOTABLES

Linsey Trapino enjoyed a terrific match, scoring the game-winning goal and assisting on the game-tying marker while putting a career-high four shots on target
The goal was Trapino's fourth of the season while the assist marked her first at the college level
Brooke Quam scored her first goal of the season
Ellie Primerano recorded her team-leading fifth assist of the year
Rheana Zerna tallied her first assist of the season
Jaylee Strickland earned her ninth win of 2023 with five saves
Kira Sosinske and Krysten Schuster each put one shot on target
St. Cloud State led 7-6 on shots on target
After trailing 10-3 on shots in the first half, SCSU held a 7-1 advantage in the final 45

QUOTABLES – St. Cloud State head coach Gretta Macdonald

"Earning six points at Husky Heaven is an awesome way to celebrate SCSU Homecoming! We're so grateful for the energy and support of our loyal fans. Today we showcased our resilience to find a way together. We executed our halftime adjustments and increased the tempo of the game. We look forward to the next opportunity to improve together."

UP NEXT

St. Cloud State looks ahead to two key road matches next weekend, visiting Northern State on October 13 then traveling to MSU-Moorhead on October 15. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT in Aberdeen on Friday with a noon start on Sunday in Moorhead.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Soccer, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.