WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The St. Mary’s women’s soccer team charged ahead to the start of Heartland Conference play with another win under its cleats in a 2-1 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Sunday.

Leah Snelson (So., Dallas) scored a quick goal minutes into the game and Kaitie Kasperitis (Fr., Corpus Christi, Texas) found the net in the 80th minute, helping build a 2-0 lead that the Rattlers (3-1-1) would not relinquish in their final affair before the start of conference play.

Still friendly with the net after her goal on Friday against East Central, Snelson went toe-to-toe with Southwestern Oklahoma State’s goalkeeper and netted an unassisted goal 10 minutes in game, bringing her season goal total to three. Snelson has proved her and the net know each other pretty well; all of her five shots against Southern Oklahoma State (1-5-1) were shots on goal, bringing her season total to 14. Snelson’s goal remained the only one for either team deep into the second half.

Freshman Kaitie Kasperitis (Corpus Christi, Texas) was on the starting squad for the first time this season in Friday’s game against East Central and didn’t disappoint by scoring a goal three minutes into the game. Kasperitis remained with the starting squad for the game today against Southwestern Oklahoma State and struck again midway through the second half with an unassisted goal off a deflection from a defender, bringing the Rattlers’ lead to 2-0. Kasperitis also had three shots on goal.

But the Rattlers weren’t the only ones making a run for the net. The Dawgs had 12 shots on goal with Paige Doherty leading the way with four. The numerous attempts to score were kept at attempts thanks to Rattler goalkeeper Paola Ostros (So., El Paso, Texas), who had an impressive 11 saves and kept the Rattlers as the leaders of the scoreboard. However two minutes before the Rattlers could have said they kept the Dawgs scoreless, Doherty was back at it again, and in a scramble in front of Ostros netted an unassisted goal that made the final score 2-1.

The win over the Dawgs takes the Rattlers to conference play with a winning record and the confidence that comes from having a strong start to the season. All the cards will be on the table this Tuesday at Northside ISD Soccer Field, as the Rattlers battle Texas A&M International in their first conference game of the year. Game time is set for 3 p.m.

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