ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Carleton College women's soccer team clinched a playoff berth with a gritty 1-0 win over Macalester College in a weeknight road game.
 
Carleton (11-1-3, 6-0-2 MIAC) secured their third consecutive trip to the conference tournament with the victory. In each of its last two visits to the postseason, the Knights have advanced to the MIAC Playoffs Championship, in addition to a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2023. Carleton also expanded its lead atop the conference table, climbing to four points above second-place Saint Mary's University.

The Knights are unbeaten over their last 30 MIAC regular-season contests, going 23-0-7 over that stretch.
 
The Knights outshot Macalester 14-6, with nine shots on goal compared to only three for the Scots. Carleton held an 11-0 edge in corner kicks, and the two teams combined for only eight fouls.
 
Due to injuries, the Knights trotted out a new-look lineup, with five positions changed from Saturday's match, including three of four back-line spots. The swaps included the first career starts for Eliza Barton and Maya Lacey.
 
Carleton's shuffled setup was frustrated by a stubborn Scots (5-5-3, 2-3-2 MIAC) defense, and goalkeeper Ashlyn Ryan, who made four first-half saves. The Knights controlled play, however, and did not allow a shot to their opponents over the opening 45 minutes.
 
Carleton nearly made a quick start in the second half, as in the 51st minute a scuffed clearance fell to Dylan Baker, but her close-range poke was saved by Ryan. Soon after, Isabelle Connolly rifled a shot inches over the crossbar from outside the box.
 
In the 61st minute, netminder Avery Trapp came way off her line and got tangled with an attacking Macalester player outside of the box, leaving an empty net. However, Piper Dean stuck close to the Scot and made a sprawling block to keep the game scoreless.
 
In the 70th minute, Carleton finally broke through on the counterattack. Baker played long to Kathryn Kresse. The pacy forward outraced her defender to the ball, dribbled into the box wide, and tucked her shot under the bar from a tight angle. The goal was Kresse's team-leading eighth. Baker earned the assist, and all three of her helpers this season have been on Kresse goals.
 
Trapp made three saves to secure her fifth solo clean sheet in addition to a pair of combined shutouts. Four of those have come in MIAC play, a league best. For the Scots, 'keeper Ryan made eight saves.
 
Kresse's game-winning goal was her fourth of the season, tied for most in the MIAC and 10th in NCAA D-III. The junior forward now has 23 career goals and 60 career points (23 g, 14 a). Those totals are fifth and fourth, respectively, in Carleton history (see charts below) She is already tied for fourth in team annals with 14 career assists.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton returns to Bell Field for another MIAC challenge against Hamline University. The home conference tilt is set for Saturday, Oct. 19, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
 
Most Career Goals in Carleton Women's Soccer History
1.         40 – Birungi Mutebi – 1998-01
2.         30 – Niki Tomita – 2008-11
3.         26 – Nora Mertz – 2016-19
4.         25 – Rose Koch – 1996-99
5.         23 – M. Russell-Dempsey – 1998-01
5.         23 – Cate Patterson – 2019-2023
5.         23 – Kathryn Kresse – 2022-PRESENT
 
Most Career Points in Carleton Women's Soccer History
1.         89 – Birungi Mutebi (40g, 9a) – 1998-01     
2.         69 – Niki Tomita (30g, 9a) – 2008-11
3.         67 – Cate Patterson (23g, 21a) – 2019-2023
4.         60 – Kathryn Kresse (23g, 14a) – 2022-present
5.         58 – M. Russell-Dempsey (23g, 12a) – 1998-01
5.         58 – Rose Koch (25g, 8a) – 1996-99
 
Most Career Assists in Carleton Women's Soccer History
1.         21 – Cate Patterson – 2019-23
2.         16 – Mia Zutz – 2006-08
3.         15 – Casey MacVeagh, 2021-23
4.         14 – Lily VanderStaay – 2008-11
4.         14 – Kathryn Kresse – 2022-present