Women's Soccer Game Recaps

2007 GAME RECAPS
(Click on results to obtain game statistics)

CHICAGO, Ill. — No. 8-ranked and top-seeded Saint Xavier University defeated University of St. Francis, 6-0, Saturday afternoon in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinal game. The loss eliminated USF from the conference tourney and ended the Lady Saints’ season. USF concludes the year with a 4-13 overall record and a 2-7 CCAC mark.

The Saints trailed 4-0 at halftime as SXU converted on three corner kicks and one breakaway. USF was outshot in the game, 31-2, and had just one shot on goal compared to SXU’s 21.

Sophomore forward Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) recorded USF’s only shot on goal and also finished with the Saints’ only two shots of the game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake North H.S./Willoughby, OH) was credited with 15 saves.

NOTES: USF played short-handed again on Saturday, with just two subistitute players available. Sophomore defender Nikki Faught (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) returned to action, as did sophomore midfielder Ashley Kekelik (Thornton-Fractional South H.S./Lansing, IL) but the Saints were missing junior midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) who was out after fracturing her nose in Wednesday’s loss at Trinity Christian ... Esparza led the Saints in scoring for the season with a team-best four goals and two assists for 10 points. Junior forward Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) was next with two goals and three assists for seven points ... Injuries, illnesses and class conflicts took their toll on the Saints this season. Only three players participated in all 17 games -- Proa, junior midfielder Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) and sophomore utility player Mary Poffenbarger (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL). Junior midfielder Sandra Knezevic (Thornton-Fractional South H.S./Lansing, IL) played in 16 of the 17 games, missing her only game after receiving two yellow caution cards in the previous contest.

OCTOBER 17:
TRINITY CHRISTIAN 8, USF 0

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — No. 22-ranked Trinity Christian held University of St. Francis without a shot and posted an 8-0 shutout victory over the Saints Wednesday night in USF’s final regular-season game.

The Trolls (14-2-2, 6-1-2), who locked up second place in the final hicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference with the win, opened the scoring in the game’s third minute.

The short-handed Saints, who suited up just 12 players due to injuries, managed to stay within one goal for the next 30 minutes before the Trolls added another goal. TCC, who used 25 different players in the game, made it 3-0 at halftime with its third goal in the 38th minute.

Trinity Christian scored goals on five of its nine shots on net in the second half to pull away.

USF (4-12, 2-7) completed regular-season play with an eighth-place finish in the rugged CCAC. The Lady Saints qualified for the CCAC Championship tournament and will open play Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at regular-season champ and No. 1-seeded Saint Xavier.

NOTES: The shutout was the ninth suffered by the Saints this year and the sixth in CCAC play ... The national rankings help to show the strength of the CCAC in women’s soccer. While the ratings are dominated by teams from the South and the West Coast, the CCAC has two team among the top 25 (No. 9 Saint Xavier and No. 22 Trinity Christian) and one more among the group of other schools receiving votes (Trinity International). Robert Morris is unranked but the Eagles have won or shared the last six CCAC titles. Judson is unranked but its Eagles handed Trinity Christian its only league loss of the season. Also unranked is Olivet Nazarene, but the Tigers defeated Trinity International earlier Wednesday afternoon. Seventh-place Illinois Tech and eighth-place USF round out the league tournament field ... Joining the list of injured players who missed Wednesday’s game were freshman defender Grisselda Nava (Plainfield South H.S./Plainfield, IL) with a severely bruised shin and sophomore midfielder Ashley Kekelik (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL) with a slight concussion. Both remain questionable for Saturday’s playoff game.

OCTOBER 13:
ILLINOIS TECH 2, USF 0

JOLIET, Ill. — Illinois Tech scored a goal in each half and limited University of St. Francis to just four total shots and one shot on goal in handing the Lady Saints a 2-0 setback Saturday afternoon at the Galowich YMCA fields.

The visiting Scarlet Hawks controlled the tempo of the game against the short-handed Saints and finished with 28 total shots and 10 shots on goal. USF had just 12 players available for the game.

Illinois Tech’s Kim Grubisich scored the eventual game-winning goal less than 10 minutes into the game. The score remained 1-0 until Stephanie Salem scored Tech’s second goal early in the second half.

USF managed to get just one shot on goal and that came off the foot of junior forward Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL).

Saints goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake North H.S./Willoughby, OH) made eigth saves on the day.

The loss dropped USF to 4-11 overall and to 2-6 in CCAC play. The Saints conclude their regular season on Wednesday night with a CCAC match at Trinity Christian. USF opens up play in the CCAC post-season championship tournament next weekend against an opponent to be determined.

OCTOBER 9:
USF 3, CARDINAL STRITCH 2 (OT)

JOLIET, Ill. — Junior Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) earned an assist on the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation and then scored the unassisted gamewinner less than two minutes into overtime to lead University of St. Francis to a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Cardinal Stritch (WI) Tuesday afternoon at the Galowich YMCA fields.

Giovenco fed junior Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) with a corner kick that Sabo headed in for the game-tying goal at the 89:02 mark of regulation time.

Playing one man short due to a double yellow-card ejection, the Saints still managed to get the only shot off in overtime when Giovenco sailed one over the Cardinal Stritch goalkeeper’s head from 30 yards out just 1:34 into the extra session.

USF had jumped to a 1-0 lead in the game’s 23rd minute when junior forward Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) got past the defense and the Stritch goalie and found the open net from 10 yards out.

Cardinal Stritch tied the score six minutes later and the game was even at 1-1 after the first half of play.

After USF sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake North H.S./Willoughby, OH) stopped one CSU penalty kick midway through the second half, the Wolves were awarded another penalty kick chance and this time connected to take a 2-1 lead with less than 20 minutes remaining.

USF finally was able to get the equalizer when Sabo connected in the final minute of regulation. That set the stage for Giovenco’s dramatic goal in overtime.

Each team finished with eight shots on goal. Giovenco led the Lady Saints with three. Skof collected five saves and earned her third win in goal.

USF improved its overall record to 4-10 and its CCAC mark to 2-5.

The Lady Saints play host to Illinois Tech in their final home game of the season on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the second half of a men’s and women’s CCAC doubleheader with the Scarlet Hawks at the Golowich YMCA field.

NOTES: Skof returned to action after missing the last three games with a leg injury ... This was USF’s first overtime game of the year and its first since this same date -- Oct. 9 -- in 2004 when USF also won by a 3-2 score over Calumet (IN) at the Galowich YMCA field ... Sabo now has two goals on the season and they have come in back-to-back games. She logged USF’s only goal in Saturday’s 9-1 loss to Robert Morris ... The three goals marked the first time in the last nine games that USF has scored more than one goal. The Saints had two in a 3-2 loss at Lake Erie (OH) back on Sept. 9 ... The three goals are just one short of matching the team’s season high of four reached in a 4-1 win over Westminster (MO) back on August 31.

OCTOBER 6:
ROBERT MORRIS 9, USF 1

JOLIET, Ill.. — Robert Morris snapped a 1-1 tie in the 13th minute of the first half and exploded for seven more goals in earning a 9-1 victory over the Lady Saints Saturday afternoon at the Galowich YMCA field.

The six-time defending Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions got three goals and three assists from Linda Mathisen and scored nine times on 17 total shots on goal.

USF got its only goal at the 10:40 mark of the opening half when junior midfielder Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) connected from the right side of the box off a feed from junior forward Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL).

The score was 5-1 at halftime, but USF was nearly even with the Eagles in shots in the first 45 minutes with 10 compared to Robert Morris’ 11.

The Eagles controlled the second half, wearing down the shorthanded Saints and outshooting them, 13-4.

Forward Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) and midfielder Sandra Knezevic (Thornton Fractional South H.S./Lansing, IL) led the Lady Saints with two shots on goal apiece, with Sabo, Esparza and midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) each adding one.

The loss dropped the Saints to 3-10 overall and to 1-5 in CCAC play. USF plays host to Cardinal Stritch (WI) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the second half of a men’s and women’s CCAC doubleheader with CSU at the Galowich YMCA field.

NOTES: The Saints welcomed sophomore defender Caitlyn Byrnes (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL) back from a leg injury. Still, the injury-depleted Saints had just three substitutes on their bench when the game kicked off ... The Cardinal Stritch game on Tuesday is the second of three straight home games for the Saints. USF plays host to Illinois Tech next Saturday and finishes the regular season at Trinity Christian on Oct. 17 ... USF stands 1-2 at home thus far this season.

OCTOBER 3:
USF 1, CALUMET (IN) 0

SCHERERVILLE, Ind. — Junior Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) snapped a scoreless tie in the game’s 86th minute to lead University of St. Francis to a streak-breaking 1-0 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Calumet College (IN) Wednesday afternoon.

The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Lady Saints and also ended a scoring draught for USF that had reached over six-and-one-half games.

USF had a manpower advantage throughout the game as Calumet suited up only nine players. Despite the two-player advantage and nearly six times as many shots taken, the Lady Saints were not able to dent the scoreboard until the final five minutes of the game.

Esparza scored her team-high third goal of the season on a feed from classmate and roomate Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL). Proa had left the game midway through the first half with an injured wrist but was reinserted into the game with eight minutes to go and immediately sparked the Saints’ offense.

After Esparza put the Saints ahead, USF continued to apply the pressure and had several more scoring opportunities, including three shots that hit the crossbar.

Sophomore forward Mary Poffenbarger (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL), playing just her second collegiate game in goal as the emergency starter in relief of injured regular Katelyn Skof (Eastlake H.S./Willoughby, OH), notched her first career win and shutout. She made four saves, two in each half.

Junior midfielder Katie Diamond (Shorewood H.S./Minooka, IL) led USF’s offense with seven total shots, including two on goal. Five of Esparza’s six shots were on goal and the other hit the crossbar. Junior midfielders Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) and Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) each added five shots and one shot on goal.

The Saints are now 3-9 overall and 1-4 in CCAC play. USF plays host to league foe Robert Morris on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the first half of a women’s and men’s doubleheader at the Galowich YMCA Field in Joliet.

NOTES: USF’s goal was its first since a pair of second-half scores against Lake Erie College (OH) back on Sept. 9. The Saints had been shut out in their previous six outings ... USF’s 35 shots were nearly double the team’s previous high of 18 in its most recent win over Westminster (MO) back on Aug. 31 in Joliet. The 12 shots on goal also marked a season best, topping the 10 recorded against Westminster ... USF had seven corner kick opportunities in the game, its first corners in five outings ... Two of USF’s three victories to date have been shutouts, with the first coming in a 2-0 season-opening win over Waldorf (IA) at the Iowa Wesleyan tournament on Aug. 25 ... The Lady Saints how have one win each at home, on the road and at neutral sites ... In addition to Skof, USF was also missing sophomore defender Caitlyn Byrnes (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL) who was out with an injury. She is expected to return in time for Saturday’s game. The Saints have four players on their roster who were ruled out due to injuries prior to the start of the season and have also lost midfielder Mandy Cap (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL) with a leg injury.

SEPTEMBER 29:
JUDSON 4 , USF 0

ELGIN, Ill. — Judson scored four first-half goals and went on to post a 4-0 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over University of St. Francis Saturday afternoon.

The loss was USF’s ninth in succession and also marked the sixth straight game in which the Lady Saints have failed to score.

Judson took advantage of emergency USF goalkeeper Mary Poffenbarger (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL), a forward who was playing her first collegiate game in goal. Poffenbarger was replacing USF regular Katelyn Skof (Eastlake H.S./Willoughby, OH) who missed the game due to injury. The Eagles jumped on USF for three goals in the game’s first 21 minutes and added one more in the final minute of the first half.

The Lady Saints managed just four shots in the game and only had two on goal. Junior midfielders Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) and Katie Diamond (Shorewood H.S./Minooka, IL) each recorded one shot on goal for USF. Giovenco had USF’s other two shot attempts.

USF fell to 2-9 overall and 0-4 in CCAC play. Judson improved to 4-5-1 overal and 2-3 in the league.

NOTES: The injury-riddled Saints welcomed back sophomore defender Caitlin Byrnes (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL) who missed Tuesday’s game with Olivet Nazarene with a bruised shin. Forward Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) and reserve forward Roxy Camacho (Our Lady of Tepayec H.S./Chicago, IL) also played after missing the final minutes of the ONU game due to injuries ... USF travels to Hammond, Ind., to play CCAC foe Calumet (IN) on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 25:
OLIVET NAZARENE 5 , USF 0

JOLIET, Ill. --- Olivet Nazarene took advantage of an injury-depleted University of St. Francis squad and wore down the Lady Saints in a 5-0 victory Tuesday afternoon at the Galowich YMCA field.

The Saints suited up just 14 players -- one of whom was playing with a heavily wrapped hand due to an injured finger -- and did not have the numbers to stay with the deeper Tigers.

The game was scoreless through the first 26 minutes before Olivet’s Michelle Davis broke the ice with her first goal of the game.

It remained 1-0 at the half, but the Tigers jumped on USF for three quick goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half to put the issue to rest.

Olivet outshot the Lady Saints, 31-6, and had 11 shots on goal compared to USF’s three.

The Saints lost their seventh straight game and were shut out for the fifth consecutive time. USF is now 2-8 overall and 0-3 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

NOTES: The Saints were missing junior starting forward and second-leading scorer Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) who had a class conflict. Also missing due to an injury was sophomore defender Cailtin Byrnes (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL). Reserve defender Rebecca Ruettiger (Plainfield Central H.S./Crest Hill, IL) was playing despite having her hand completely wrapped after tearing a ligament in her finger while playing goal at Trinity International last week. During the game against Olivet, junior midfielder Mandy Cap (Minooka H.S./Channahon, IL) left for x-rays on a severely bruised leg, junior forward Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) left the game with an injured wrist and sophomore forward Roxy Camacho (Our Lady of Tepeyac H.S,.Chicago, IL) was forced to sit down due to bruised ribs. All the injured players will be re-evaluated prior to Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at Judson.

SEPTEMBER 21:
SAINT XAVIER 7, USF 0

CHICAGO, Ill. --- No. 5 Saint Xavier jumped out to a quick lead, held a 6-0 advantage at halftime, and handed University of St. Francis its fourth straight shoutout with a 7-0 victory at Deaton Field on the SXU campus Friday evening.

The Cougars’ Lissa Coby scored the first of her three goals 11 minutes into the first half and SXU added three more in the next seven minutes to establish control of the game.

USF managed just five shots on goal in the game, with four coming in the second half. Junior Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) led the team with two shots on goal.

The loss was the Saints’ sixth in a row and dropped them to 2-7 overall and 0-2 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play. SXU improved to 8-1 and 2-1 in the league.

USF plays host to CCAC rival Olivet Nazarene on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the front half of a women’s and men’s doubleheader with the Tigers.

NOTES: USF has been shut out by Viterbo (WI), Sioux Falls (SD), Trinity International and Saint Xavier in its last four outings. The Saints last scored in the second half of a 3-2 loss to Lake Erie (OH) on Sept. 9.

SEPTEMBER 19:
TRINITY INTERNATIONAL 8, USF 0

DEERFIELD, Ill. --- Trinity International used its depth and took advantage of a short-handed University of St. Francis squad to hand the Lady Saints their fifth straight loss with an 8-0 verdict Wednesday afternoon. The contest was the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener for both schools. TIU improved to 4-4 overall and snapped a four-game losing streak. USF fell to 2-6 with the loss.

The Lady Saints suited up just 13 players, with three key players missing due to class conflicts. The Saints were without starting goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake H.S./Willoughby, OH), second-leading scorer Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) and starter Katie Diamond (Minooka H.S./Shorewood, IL).

Since Skof is the only true goalie left on the Saints’ roster, head coach Mario Dukovac was forced to use junior defender Rebecca Ruettiger (Plainfield Central H.S./Crest Hill, IL) in goal for the first time in her collegiate career.

TIU took full advantage, scoring its first goal barely more than one minute into the game and adding two more before the contest was 19 minutes old. The Trojans extended the lead to 5-0 by halftime and outshot the Saints 11-0 in the opening 45 minutes.

USF did manage to get off five shots in the second half, including two on goal by junior midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL).

The task does not get much easier for USF. The Lady Saints travel to Chicago Friday for a CCAC matchup with No. 5-ranked and unbeaten Saint Xavier at 5 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 16:
SIOUX FALLS (SD) 4, USF 0

LA CROSSE, Wis. --- University of St. Francis suffered its second straight shutout and lost both games of the Franciscan Cup tourney, losing 4-0 to Sioux Falls (SD) Sunday afternoon at Viterbo University.

The Lady Saints played more aggressively than in the opening halves of the two previous games but could not get a ball in the net. USF outshot Sioux Falls, 15-11, on the game and trailed in shots on goal by only one, 8-7.

Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) and Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) led USF with three shots on goal apiece and Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) added one.

USF fell to 2-5 on the season and the loss pushed its losing streak to four games.

The Saints open Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday when they travel to Deerfield to play Trinity International University.

SEPTEMBER 15:
VITERBO (WI) 3, USF 0

LA CROSSE, Wis. --- For the second straight game, University of St. Francis got out of the gates slowly by allowing three first-half goals and could not recover as the Lady Saints fell, 3-0, to host Viterbo University in the opening game of the Franciscan Cup Tournament Saturday afternoon.

Viterbo scored three times in the game’s first 33 minutes and never let the Saints back into the contest.

The hosts took 11 shots in the first half and five in the second half and finished the game with eight shots on goal.

USF managed just three shots in its sluggish first half but managed to outshoot Viterbo, 6-5, in the second period. For the game, the Lady Saints were credited with four shots on goal, three off the foot of midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) and one from Nikki Faught (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL).

NOTES: The loss dropped USF to 2-4 and was the third straight setback for the Lady Saints ... The shutout was just the second suffered by the Saints this year. Ashford also blanked USF by a 3-0 score back on Aug. 29. The Saints were blanked 10 times in 2006 ... USF lost by an identical 3-0 score at Viterbo one year ago in the same tournament.

SEPTEMBER 9:
LAKE ERIE (OH) 3, USF 2

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio --- College of Lake Erie scored three first-half goals and then held off a furious second-half rally by University of St. Francis to defeat the Lady Saints, 3-2, Sunday morning.

The hosts scored their three goals in the first 22 minutes of the game and then were shut down by the Saints. In fact, Lake Erie managed just two shots in the second half and only one shot on goal after tallying its third goal early in the game.

The hole for USF, though, eneded up being too deep. USF had eight corner kicks and registered six shots on goal in the second half, scoring twice. Ohio native Chelsea Wagner (Eaton H.S./Eaton, OH) scored her second goal in as many days and it again came off a direct kick. After Wagner’s goal cut the lead to 3-1 at the 65-minute mark, USF defender Caitlin Byrnes (Plainfield South H.S./Joliet, IL) got the Saints within one goal when she scored off an assist from Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) at the 85-minute juncture.

USF kept the pressure on but was unable to connect for the tying goal.
Junior midfielder Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) led USF with three shots on goal, with Wagner and Byrnes adding two each and Nikki Faught (Bolingbrook H.S./Bolingbrook, IL) collecting one.

NOTES: The loss dropped the Lady Saints below the .500 mark (2-3) for the first time this season ... Lake Erie was the second NCAA Division III opponent for USF this fall. The Lady Saints defeated Westminster (MO) in Joliet on Aug. 31.

SEPTEMBER 8:
NOTRE DAME (OH) 3, USF 1

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio --- Notre Dame College (OH) snapped a 1-1 tie with a pair of goals in the final nine minutes of the game to pin a 3-1 loss on University of St. Francis Saturday afternoon.

USF trailed 1-0 at halftime but evened the score a little more than 15 minutes into the second period when Ohio native Chelsea Wagner (Eaton H.S./Eaton, OH) scored her first collegiate goal on a direct kick.

The score remained tied until the 81:58 mark of the game when Notre Dame took the lead on a 12-yard goal by Holly Joseph. The Falcons then added the finishing touch with another goal five minutes later that gave the home team a two-goal cushion.

Notre Dame outshot the Lady Saints, 22-4, and had 12 shots on goal compared to USF’s three. Saints’ goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake North H.S./Willoughby, OH), USF’s other Ohio native, recorded nine saves on the day as she returned to her native Cleveland area.

In addition to Wagner’s goal, USF got shots on net from Jessica Sabo (Andrew H.S./Tinley Park, IL) and Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic/McHenry, IL).

The loss evened USF’s record at 2-2, and Notre Dame improved to 4-0-1.

NOTES: USF played without the services of junior midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) who missed the trip due to a family wedding ... The Saints wrap up the two game trip with a game Sunday against Lake Erie College (OH) that will also be played at Notre Dame’s home field.

AUGUST 31:
USF 4, WESTMINSTER (MO) 1

JOLIET, Ill. --- Junior midfielder Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL) scored a pair of goals and assisted one other to lead University of St. Francis (2-1/0-0) to a 4-1 victory over Westminster (MO) in the Lady Saints’ 2007 season home opener.

After the visiting Blue Jays scored the first goal in the 29th minute of the game, Proa got the Saints on the board just one minute later. She took a feed from fellow junior forward and roommate Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) and beat the goalkeeper from 25 feet away.

The score remained tied until 10 minutes into the second half when junior midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL) lobbed a long kick over the retreating goalie’s head for an unassisted goal.

Proa added her second goal of the game off an assist from junior midifelder Mandy Cap (Minooka H.S./Channahon, IL) 10 minutes later, and junior reserve forward Katie Diamond (Minooka H.S./Shorewood, IL) capped off the scoring at the 68 minute mark with an assist from Proa.

USF outshot Westminster, 17-6, with nine of the Saints’ 17 shots being on goal.

USF sophomore goalkeeper Katelyn Skof (Eastlake H.S./Willoughby, OH) recorded 4 saves.

NOTES: Proa’s two-goal game was the second by a USF player in the season’s first three games. Esparza registered two goals in the season-opening 2-0 win over Waldorf (IA) last Saturday at Burlington, Iowa. USF had just a pair of individual two-goal games all of last season. Kristi Trezek (Lincoln-Way East H.S./Mokena, IL), who is missing this season due to a knee injury, notched two in a win over Waldorf and Proa had a pair in a win at Cardinal Stritch (WI) ... USF’s four goals Friday also equaled last year’s team-high ... The Saints did not register their second win in 2006 until their eighth contest ... The Saints are off until next weekend when they travel to Cleveland to play Notre Dame (OH) and Lake Erie (OH).

AUGUST 29:
ASHFORD (IA) 3, USF 0

CLINTON, Iowa --- University of St. Francis (1-1, 0-0) held Ashford (IA) to just six shots on goal but three of the host Saints’ shots found the net as Ashford dealt USF its first loss of the season, 3-0, Wednesday afternoon.

Ashford scored all three goals in the second half after the teams played to a scoreless tie for over 51 minutes of play.

Zoe Delehanty broke the ice for Ashford with a goal at the 51:04 mark and the hosts added a second score just 65 seconds later on a free kick by Clarie Nestor. Ashford wrapped up the scoring inthe 73rd minute on a tally off the foot of Erika Jakobsen.

USF managed five shots on goal but could get nothing past Ashford goalie Holly Maskell. Five different Lady Saints were credited with shots on goal, including junior midfielder Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL), junior midfielder Sandra Knezevic (T.F. South H.S./Lansing, IL), junior midfielder Toni Giovenco (Willowbrook H.S./Elmhurst, IL), junior forward Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) and sophomore forward Mary Poffenbarger (Minooka H.S./Minooka, IL).

The Lady Saints play their home opener on Friday, playing host to Westminster (MO) at 4 p.m. at the Galowich YMCA on Joliet’s west side.

NOTES: The Saints suffered their first shutout of the 2007 season, after being blanked a total of 10 times in 2006. USF was held scoreless in its last three games of 2006 and in five of its last six. The Saints snapped that scoreless skein last Saturday with a 2-0 win over Waldorf (IA) in the Iowa Wesleyan Tournament at Burlington, Iowa ... Friday’s home opener against Westminster will be USF’s only home action until September 25 when the Lady Saints play host to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Olivet Nazarene.

AUGUST 25:
USF 2, WALDORF (IA) 0

BURLINGTON, Iowa --- Junior midfielder Gaby Esparza (Streamwood H.S./Hanover Park, IL) provided the offense and sophomore Katelyn Skof (Eastlake H.S./Willoughby, OH) and redshirt freshman Carissa Smith (Downers Grove South H.S./Woodridge, IL) took care of business on the defensive end as University of St. Francis opened its 2007 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Waldorf College (IA) at the rain-shortened Iowa Wesleyan College Tournament Saturday morning.

Esparza, who registered the first two-goal game of her collegiate career, provided the only tally the Lady Saints needed at the 20-minute mark on a feed from junior midfielder Lupe Proa (Marian Central Catholic H.S./McHenry, IL).

Esparza added the second unassisted goal 13 minutes into the second half.

Skof worked the first 80 minutes in goal, stopping Waldorf's lone shot. Smith completed the shutout with her ten minutes of action.

NOTES: Esparza doubled her goal count of one year ago. As a freshman, she led the team with six goals ... Esparza’s first goal also snapped a three-game scoring drought for the Lady Saints, who were shut out in each of their final three games of the 2006 season ... Skof’s start in goal was her first at USF ... St. Francis’ game against Mount Mercy College (IA) on Friday was cancelled due to the heavy rains that hit the Midwest over the past three days. It will not be made up.