Babson Park, FL – Webber International women's soccer dropped to St. Thomas, 3–1, on Saturday evening (Sept. 6) in Babson Park, Fla. After the Bobcats scored twice in a three-minute span late in the first half, the Warriors surged out of halftime and halved the deficit through Rikke Olufsen, only for STU to add an 88th-minute insurance goal.
St. Thomas carried the early chances. Francesca Magnotti's first stop came in the 7th minute on an Ariana Vazquez effort, and the Bobcats kept the pressure on with corners in the 16th and 26th minutes. Webber's best first-half moment was its lone corner at 18:28 (served by Olof Sigurðardóttir), but the visitors finally broke through at 26:50 when Julia Ezcurra converted for 1–0. Just 2:28 later (29:18), Leenah Bigby doubled the lead to put STU up 2–0 at the half.
The Warriors flipped the momentum after the break. Pia Grosse forced a block at 49:08, and at 49:41 Olufsen put Webber on the board—tucking away a ball from right back MaKenzee Feskanin to make it 2–1. STU picked up a caution to Bryanna Alzate at 50:06, and Webber kept coming, with Ana Buenrostro firing wide in the 52nd minute. Magnotti preserved the one-goal margin with another save on Natalie Nyberg in the 73rd.
Chasing the equalizer, Webber pushed lines and got flagged offside multiple times (seven on the night), as STU leaned on set pieces with corners in the 56th, 73rd and 78th minutes. The late push left space the other way, and the Bobcats' Sophie Saunders sealed it at 88:22 for the 3–1 final.
Webber's back line worked heavy minutes—Feskanin, Princess Agustin, Thea Roque and Annabell Norwood all logged the full 90—while Magnotti finished with four saves (seven STU shots on target). In midfield, Buenrostro went the distance, and Grosse gave the Warriors an attacking spark off the bench (on at 31:54), with Sigurðardóttir returning in the 69th minute as Webber chased a second.
How it happened
• 26:50 — STU 1–0: Julia Ezcurra.
• 29:18 — STU 2–0: Leenah Bigby.
• 49:41 — WIU 2–1: Rikke Olufsen (assist: MaKenzee Feskanin).
• 88:22 — STU 3–1: Sophie Saunders.
Key moments & discipline
• Magnotti saves: 7:00 (Vazquez), 23:16 (Bigby), 33:07, 73:12 (Nyberg).
• Corners: STU 16:26, 56:05, 73:22, 78:27; WIU 18:28 (Sigurðardóttir).
• Yellow cards: STU — Bryanna Alzate 50:06, Sierra Olivo 81:05; WIU — Rikke Olufsen 52:36.
• Offside: Webber 7, STU 2.
By the numbers
• Shots: STU 18 (11/7 by half), Webber 3 (0/3 by half).
• Shots on goal: STU 7, Webber 1.
• Corners: STU 4, Webber 1.
• Fouls: 7–7.
• Goalkeepers: Magnotti (WIU) 4 SV; Alfaro (STU) 0 SV.
Webber leaders
• Goal: Rikke Olufsen (49:41).
• Assist: MaKenzee Feskanin.
• Shots: Grosse (1), Buenrostro (1), Olufsen (1/SOG).
• Minutes: Feskanin, Agustin, Roque, Norwood, Buenrostro all 90; Magnotti 90 in goal.
Despite the result, the second-half response—three shots after the break, the early goal, and sustained pressure—was a positive sign as Webber heads deeper into Sun Conference play.
