Flames Fall in Kansas

by Shad Beam

August 26, 2012

OLATHE, Kan. – College of Saint Mary soccer opened the 2012 campaign in a wet and rainy Olathe, Kan. on Saturday afternoon. Despite being outshot, MidAmerica Nazarene escaped with a 3-2 win on their home pitch.

MidAmerica Nazarene opened the scoring with a goal by Kara Collins at the 9:41 mark in the first half. CSM didn’t wait long to even the score. Abby Zach (SO, Gering, Neb.) lobbed a shot from the left side that rolled into the back of the net. Payton Roby (FR, Omaha, Neb.) earned her first collegiate point with the assist. The Pioneers regained the lead in the dying moments of the first half as Kara Collins tallied her second goal off a corner kick. The two teams went into halftime with MidAmerica Nazarene holding a 2-1 advantage.

The start of the second half didn’t start the way CSM was expecting. Ashton Bergh mishot a cross which floated into the CSM goal to increase the lead to 3-1. The Flames looked to have a scoring opportunity two minutes later as Catherine Pickinpaugh (JR, Omaha, Neb.) was taken down in the penalty area. Pickinpaugh’s penalty kick hit the inside of the right post and bounced out. CSM continued to pressure the back line of the Pioneers. Abby Schlater (JR, Council Bluffs, Iowa) ran onto a pass from Sarah McGuire (FR, Omaha, Neb.) and calmly placed a shot past the onrushing keeper to pull CSM within 3-2.

The Flames continued to get behind the Pioneer defense, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Schlater had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments of the game. She ran onto a perfectly placed ball in the final five seconds of the game, but was unable to convert on the shot attempt.

CSM held a 17-16 shot advantage. Courtney Smith (FR, Colorado Springs, Colo.) allowed three goals and made eight saves.

The Flames make their home debut on Wednesday, August 29 against Morningside College at 5:00pm.