The women’s soccer team edged the St. Benedict Blazers on Saturday in penalty kicks only to be eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament by the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point on Wednesday.

The game against the Blazers was held on a frigid afternoon on a practice field in St. Joseph, Minn. The stadium in nearby Collegeville, where the game would normally have been held, was playing host to St. John’s football season-ender against Bethel.

The Scots held top-seeded St. Benedict to a goalless stalemate through regulation and two periods of overtime. While neither team had a distinct advantage through most of the game, Macalester picked up the attack at the end of the second half with Annie Borton ’07 forcing two tough saves from Blazers’ goalkeeper Tae Ruppe. The Scots also had the better chances in overtime, but were again unable to convert.

In the decisive penalty shootout, Jessica Bullen ’05, Meghan Leahey ’06 and Sarah Marsh ’05 converted Macalester’s first three shots, while Scots’ goalkeeper Lisa Bauer ’04 blocked the first and third shots by St. Benedict’s. Erla Petursdottir ’04 hit the post on the potential game-winning shot but Bauer stopped the Blazer’s fourth shot to clinch the game and a spot in the NCAA tournament for Macalester.

The men, meanwhile, missed out on the NCAA playoffs with a heartbreaking 1-2 home loss to Gustavus Adolphus. The Gusties went up on two goals from Scott Storlie and Jonathan Astry in the 43rd and 58th minutes respectively. Macalester answered back in the 72nd minute when a corner kick from Robbie Swick ’05 found Eddie Powers ’06 in the box. It was Powers’ first goal of the season.

Despite some other close efforts, including a blistering long shot from Michael Dannenberg ’05, Macalester was unable to score and found itself out of the NCAA playoffs for the first time in three years. The season ended on a disappointing note for a team that had been ranked seventh nationally in the pre-season poll.

On Wednesday, the women’s team traveled to Steven’s Point in their first appearance in the NCAA playoffs since 2000 when the Scots had been eliminated in the first round by the same Steven’s Point team. The two teams had met earlier this season with Macalester securing a 3-2 away win.

Macalester had the better of the Pointers in the first half, being denied by the post twice. With less than a minute into the first half the Scots conceded a goal to Megan Frey. Melissa Becker and Kelly Fink added two more in the 55th and 67th minutes.