EAU CLARIE, Wis. – Sophomore Niki Tomita (Redwood City, Calif./Woodside) made the most of her chance in the starting lineup and scored twice to propel the Carleton College women’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Knights and Blugolds entered the day tied for 10th in the latest NSCAA North Region poll.
Tomita, who has come off the bench in 14 of the previous 15 matches, now leads the balanced Carleton (7-5-4) attack with four goals this season.
Her first score of the match came in the 24th minute. Megan Milligan (Jr./Las Cruces, N.M.) sent a ball over the top of the UW-Eau Claire defense, and when the keeper came out, Tomita popped the ball over her head and into the goal.
Less than five minutes before intermission Emily Alsheskie tallied the equalizer for the Blugolds (9-7-2).
The score would remain deadlocked until the 78th minute when Tomita struck again. This time senior Emma Dobbins (Portland, Ore./Grant) played it forward and when the UWEC netminder came out, Tomita slid and played the ball on the ground into the back of the net.
“They had the run of play in the first half. We looked a little flat,” said Carleton head coach Keren Gudeman. “We definitely came back well in the second half, starting wining stuff in the middle and picked up the intensity. It was a good overall team effort.”
Wisconsin-Eau Claire had several dangerous chances, but Kate Trenerry (Jr./Rochester, Minn./Century) recorded seven saves, including a couple of spectacular stops.
Since starting the year 0-3-1 and getting outscored 10-3, the Knights have gone 7-2-3 and posted a 14-5 advantage in goals.
Carleton has two regular-season matches remaining, at St. Catherine University on Wednesday, Oct. 28 and versus crosstown rival St. Olaf College on Saturday, Oct. 31. Both contests are basically must wins as the Knights currently sit sixth in the MIAC standings, three points out of the fourth and final playoff berth. Even with a pair of victories, the Knights can finish no better than third place and would have to go on the road for any potential first-round playoff game.
