PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – The University of St. Francis women's soccer team scored a crucial late goal off the foot of Ariadne Gonzalez on Saturday afternoon to break a 1-1 deadlock and vault the Fighting Saints to a 2-1 victory over Trinity Christian College to begin Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.  Gonzalez's two goals in the contest proved to be the difference in the match as USF improved to 3-2-2 overall.
 
First Half
The Saint offense came out firing with Isabel Diez attempting a shot on goal in the second minute of the match.  Just one minute later, Gonzalez would connect for her first goal of the day off a Mia Ocana assist at the 3:15 mark to provide St. Francis with an early 1-0 lead.  The Trinity Christian offense broke free over the next 30 minutes, authoring five shots, while holding the Saints without an attempt.  Ocana broke up that streak on a missed attempt on St. Francis' final shot of the half at 34:15.  TCC (2-2-4, 0-1 CCAC) returned fire over the remaining 10 minutes with four shot attempts, three that USF keeper Krystal Rodriguez was able to save in goal to preserve the Saints' 1-0 lead at the intermission.
 
Second Half
Strong defense was displayed by both teams during the early part of the second half as a balanced defensive attack from each squad was authored.  USF and TCC each recorded one shot attempt over the first 20 minutes and both teams had their chances at scoring with two corner kick opportunities.  In the 69th minute, TCC's Madison Tamminga subbed in and delivered within minutes as she assisted Trinity Christian's first score of the match with a cross to teammate Mackenzie Ling.  The goal lifted the Trolls to a 1-1 tie, but the Saints would not relent and continued to pester the goal throughout the remainder of the half.  The dramatics would come in the 81st minute.  After failed back-to-back USF corner kick opportunities, the stage was set for an open look for Gonzalez 25 seconds later to nail the eventual game-winning goal..  TCC would also have to withstand a short run of shot attempts by the Saints in the remaining minutes of the match, but nothing would register as the final score would stay latched at 2-1.
 
Gonzalez and Diez took a team-leading three shot attempts each with Gonzalez's all being on goal.  Rodriguez finished the day with four saves in the net.  The Trolls out-shot the Saints 11-10 on the day, but USF had the advantage in corner kicks at 4-3.

Up Next
St. Francis will look to win its third consecutive match on Wednesday, September 25 as the Saints host CCAC foe Holy Cross College (Ind.) at Joliet Memorial Stadium.  Kickoff will commence at 7 pm.

You can keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on X @USFSaints.