Pride begin season with victory over St. Francis

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The 2023 athletics season officially kicked off Thursday evening when the Clarke University Pride women's soccer team defeated the University of St. Francis Saints 2-1.

Bringing the packed Burrows Field crowd to their feet in just over seven minutes into the contest, Morgan Catcher connected on a pass to Samantha Rodriguez and she hit a perfect shot into the top left corner of the goal to give the Pride the early 1-0 lead.

Owning an 11-5 first-half shots advantage, the Saints finally took advantage in the 39th minute when Mia Ocana beat a Pride defender and buried a one on one with goalkeeper Faith Krapfl to even up the score into the half.

Making her tenth career start, Krapfl had an easier second half as Clarke's defense suffocated the St. Francis offense only allowing six second-half shots with only two requiring a Krapfl stop. Krapfl finished with five saves in the full 90 minutes of work.

In the 55th minute, Pride midfielder Laryssa Pritchard was inches away from a go-ahead 2-1 goal after her strike hit the post and created a second opportunity off the rebound, but Catcher was unable to beat the Saints keeper with a header.

After starting in 15 games a year ago, St. Francis goalkeeper Krystal Rodriguez looked comfortable throughout the evening, finishing with five saves and facing 17 shots.

With the game still in the balance, senior Jamie Albertson would score the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute off a deflection from a free-kick shot by newcomer Brie Cote.

The Pride women's soccer team will look to start 2-0 when they hit the road to play Viterbo University next Tuesday, August 22nd starting at 1 pm CST.