Undefeated Saints firing on all cylinders

The Regis/McDonell Soccer team is the Varsity Journal Girls Team of the Month. The two schools from the Chippewa Valley have combined to form one team, the Saints, and those Saints have been marching across their competition in the Mid-Western Wisconsin Conference.

Playing on a turf field in Eau Claire, the Saints were given the luxury of starting their season almost on time. Having to reschedule their first game to the fifth of April, due to unpredictable spring weather in Wisconsin, Regis/McDonell kicked off play with a win over Medford. From there, they have been nearly perfect, not dropping a single match in all of April. 

Their one tie of the season came on April 13 in a nonconference matchup with the visiting Menomonie Mustangs. The Saints traded goals with the Mustangs, going back and forth before the Division I Menomonie team rallied, and tied things up at two goals apiece in the final minutes of the contest. Being a few divisions behind their counterpart, the Regis/McDonell team proved that they could hang with the bigger schools. 

Scoring has been in no short supply for this Saints squad, who has outscored their opponents 57-10 on the season. Offensively, the team has been led by senior forward Colleen Callaghan, who leads the team with 24 goals. Right behind her has been senior midfielder Annabelle Schroeder, who in addition to having 19 goals to her name, has tallied 13 assists, which leads the conference. 

Tending the Net has been junior Goalkeeper Cara Olson. In a five-game stretch at the end of April and into early May, Olson did not allow a single goal, as her team stayed undefeated. In addition, her 10 goals allowed on the season is the fewest in the conference among goalies having competed in eight games or more. 

After dropping a close game 2-3 vs. Division I Eau Claire North on Friday, May 3, the Saints got a bounce-back win the following Tuesday vs. visiting Aquinas. Head Coach Scott Hoffmann and his team are eager to keep this momentum rolling through the rest of the regular season, with their eyes set on playoffs. 

In the final weeks of their spring schedule, the Regis McDonell Soccer Team will look to remain atop the Mid-Western Wisconsin Conference, where they are currently undefeated.