AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's women's soccer hosted St. Mary's in this year's Battle of the Saints, coming away with a 2-1 victory.
 
St. Edward's struck first near the six-minute mark off a throw-in. The ball settled at the feet of TRISTYN CABELLO and quickly passed to KATELYN SMITH, who gave it right back to Cabello for a booming kick from the right side into the back left corner of the net for the goal.
 
The Hilltoppers were able to pressure the Rattlers with great pace from forwards ARI RAMIREZ and Carina Wust, along with some creativity from CAITLYN GONZALEZ.
 
St. Mary's countered by getting the ball forward quickly, getting the ball into its attacking third with some space, generating three shots and three corners. However, the Rattlers failed to convert thanks in part to the defensive work of RYANN JERGOVICH and MADDI DAVIS.
 
Jergovich blocked a shot from outside the box as the lone defender between the Rattler and the keeper. In the closing minute, she also found herself in a foot race with Malia Dominguez on a ball played over the top of the defense with a clear path to the box. Jergovich managed to get position to break up the play and stop St. Mary's last opportunity of the half.
 
Hilltopper keeper DARIA SCHLUMBOHM did the rest, stopping both Rattler shots on goal and breaking up another dangerous attempt. Nearly 38 minutes in, St. Mary's forward Juni Ejere broke free from the defensive line but was disrupted by a diving DARIA SCHLUMBOHM, who left the net to stop the play near the top of the box.
 
St. Edward's drew two fouls in St. Mary's territory in the first five minutes of the second half but couldn't convert. The Rattlers answered on their first free-kick of the second half when Olivia Galvan rocketed the free kick on goal from midfield. Schlumbohm stopped the shot but couldn't reel the ball in, and it ricocheted right to the foot of Alexis Truitt, who found the back of the net.
 
The Hilltoppers had an opportunity when ARI RAMIREZ found Cabello open in the middle of the box, but the attempt sailed wide. The duo eventually teamed with Smith on a quick barrage of passes that ended with Ramirez kicking the ball off the diving keeper and then knocking in the rebound for the game-winner in the 67^th minute.
 
St. Mary's generated three shots over the final ten minutes, but Schlumbohm stopped the first, and the other two were off target.
 
St. Edward's improves to 3-2-1 with the win, dropping St. Mary's to 3-2-4. The Hilltoppers will play at Eastern New Mexico on Sunday, October 1, at noon CST.