Pride offense finds its stride in 3-0 win over Saint Mary

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Coming off of a scoreless draw to open their 2025 season, the Clarke University women's soccer team found their scoring touch on Saturday afternoon at Burrows Field in a 3-0 win over College of Saint Mary.

The Pride held significant advantages throughout the game with a total of 16 shots compared to just five for the Flames with 10 of the CU shots on on frame and Clarke also earned nine corner kicks to just three for CSM.

The opening blow came in the first half when freshman Audrey McKenna score her first collegiate goal in the 33rd minute as she was able to beat the Saint Mary keeper to the far post after Samantha Miller poked the ball over to her after being knocked to the ground for Miller's first assist of her Clarke career and first point since her sophomore season of 2023.

Clarke's 1-0 lead would carry into the halftime break as Faith Krapfl made two saves in net before giving way to Abigail Turley in the second half for the second-straight game as Turley would also make two saves to combine with Krapfl for their second shutout in as many games.

Early on in the second half, sophomore Jayden Black would double the Pride lead when she made it 2-0 in the 49th minute after Jackie Nedved sent a pass behind the defensive back line for Black to win the race to it, dribble to the six-yard box and fire a shot short side for her first goal of the season and Nedved's first career point.

CU's final goal came just under 20 minutes remaining in the game off of a set piece as Cali Koepke would take a free kick from about 40 yards away and sent a long lofted ball into the box where it would fall to the ground among a mess of bodies where Elena Kapparos would get her foot to it and score her first career goal as the final strike in the game for the Pride to make it 3-0.

Once again, Clarke head coach Josh Printz was able to use a majority of his roster in the game, playing 23 members of the Pride in their second game of the season with 11 of those players for CU able to fire a shot in the game.

The Pride will continue their August of all home games next Wednesday when they host St. Ambrose University on Aug. 27 for a 7:30 p.m. CT scheduled kickoff against the Fighting Bees.