ST. LOUIS – A historic season for the Maryville women's soccer team came to an end Sunday in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, as the No. 4-seeded Saints fell 2-1 to No. 7-seeded Missouri–St. Louis on Lonnie Folks Field in St. Louis. Maryville finished the 2025 campaign 13-3-6, earning multiple NCAA Tournament wins for the first time in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
With frigid temperatures settling over the St. Louis region, both teams battled the cold throughout the match. Ashlyne Hunt created the first quality chance in the third minute, firing a shot toward the lower-left corner that was saved by the Tritons' goalkeeper.

That early opportunity proved to be one of Maryville's best looks of the opening half, as UMSL's defense limited the Saints' dangerous chances. The Tritons broke through in the 29th minute and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.

UMSL doubled its advantage just 2 minutes, 37 seconds into the second half, capitalizing on a well-placed cross to make it 2-0.

Chasing two goals, Maryville pushed forward with attempts from Gina Catanzaro, Reese Cannon and Anna Van Son that pressured the Tritons' back line. The Saints finally broke through in the 88th minute when Izzy Oldroyd delivered a perfectly placed ball to Elsa Nilson-Hurtig, who headed it home to cut the deficit in half.

The Saints could not find an equalizer in the closing moments as their postseason run came to a close.