Women's soccer

With three wins and two draws at home at the beginning of the season, women's soccer has risen to 13th in the NSCAA national rankings and has extended its homefield unbeaten streak to 52 games.

The Scots opened the season on Aug. 31 against fourth-ranked Wheaton (Ill.), who defeated Macalester 4–0 last season. Although Wheaton took the lead with a goal in the 34th minute, Macalester continued to press for the equalizer. Just five minutes from the end, University of Minnesota transfer Juli Montgomery '03 capped off a stellar debut with a free-kick goal from 30-yards out. Although it appeared that Erin Hoople '05 had given the Scots an overtime win, her goal was disallowed for a handball and the game finished in a 1–1 draw.

The next afternoon, Macalester, without Montgomery and forward Anna Gierke '04 once again saw their homefield unbeaten streak come perilously close to its end, this time against 11th-ranked DePauw (Ind.). Six minutes into the second half, goalkeeper Lisa Bauer '04 punched out a corner kick, but the clearance was well covered by the DePauw attack and headed in for a 1–0 lead. Again, Macalester fought back, as Alice Hacker '05 recovered a corner kick at the top of the box, trapped the ball, and delivered a clinical finish into the far upper corner in the 81st minute. Neither side could create enough offense in the overtime periods, so Macalester earned its second straight tie against a nationally-ranked side.

Macalester earned its first win of the season against Dordt (Iowa) last Friday. Although the Scots were missing the scoring touch for most of the game, excellent close-range finishes from Ellie Strand '06 and Claire Parisi '03 in the final 15 minutes gave the Scots a well-deserved 2–0 win.

Parisi was the hero again for Macalester last Sunday as the Scots won a thrilling 3–2 game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire in double-overtime. Parisi assisted on both of the Scots' goals as they came from behind. The Scots defense, although beset by an Eau Claire siege in the first overtime period, held strong. Just 90 seconds into the second period, Parisi found the slightest opening on a seemingly impossible angle and fired home a stunning game-winning goal.

The Scots won their third game in a row on Tuesday night, a 1–0 win over Augsburg in their first MIAC game. Katie Stephens '03 put the Scots ahead in the 36th minute from another assist by Parisi. Bauer regained her All-American form to deny several Auggie breakaways in the second half and preserve the win.

Macalester puts its 52-game unbeaten streak on the line against fifth-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point tonight at 6 p.m. and against St. Thomas, the defending conference co-champions, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
 

Men's soccer

Despite two disappointing losses in Rochester, N.Y. at the beginning of the season, the Scots bounced back with a 3–1 home win against Carthage (Wisc.) last Saturday and a 5–0 win at Nothland (Wisc.) last Wednesday.

Macalester opened the season with a 1–0 loss against Muhlenberg (Pa.) on Aug. 30. A handball in the box by defender Stuart Peacock '05 resulted in a red card and a penalty-kick goal for the Mules in the 75th minute. Another late defensive breakdown against Alvernia (Pa.) the next day gave the Scots another 1–0 loss. The team did not send any first-years to New York because the tournament conflicted with Orientation.

The Scots were off until last Saturday, and Carthage (Wisc.) was the unfortunate victim of Macalester's backlash. Just two minutes into the game, forward Brendan Viele '05 intercepted a poor pass in the Carthage defense and raced in alone, scoring on the breakaway. The speed of Macalester's forwards and the skill of midfield maestro Nathan Knox '04 gave the Scots the upper hand, and Viele was taken down in the box 32 minutes in to earn a penalty. However, Knox's ensuing penalty attempt was saved.

Another second-half defensive lapse let Carthage tie the score against the run of play. Goalkeeper Michael Madigan '03 let a long-range shot go by, thinking it was going wide, but the ball found its way inside the near post. However, Macalester regained its clutch on the game with two goals in the final ten minutes. A well-placed cross from Scott Beaver '06 met Knox, who trapped and fired home from 15 yards in the 82nd minute. Three minutes later, Knox's quickly-taken free-kick hit the bar, but Beaver pounced on the rebound to make it 3–1.

Macalester hosts Colorado College Sunday at 1 p.m. The Scots kick off their MIAC schedule at St. Thomas on Wednesday.
 

Volleyball

After going 1–3 in the Wisconsin-River Falls Tournament to begin the season, Macalester won twice and took fourth place out of 14 teams in the Augsburg invitational last weekend. The tournament was highlighted by a 3–0 sweep of conference rivals St. Benedict's. Bethany Tate '05 had 18 kills and had a .589 hitting percentage while Sarah Graves '04 set 35 assists as the Scots crushed the Blazers. Tate's efforts over the weekend earned her Macalester Athlete of the Week honors.

Despite finishing 5–9 in the MIAC last year, the Scots, with more experience and depth, are looking to return as one of the top teams in the MIAC in 2002.
 

Women's golf

Kristine Schaaf '03 shot a tournament-best two-day score of 153 at St. Benedict's Blazer Invite on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The great performance also earned Schaaf the year's first Athlete of the Week award.

Macalester's golf teams are looking for more players. Please contact head coach Martha Nause at nause@macalester.edu if you are interested in playing.