Midfielder Jaclyn Glaser continued her scoring hot streak when she netted her second goal in three games Sunday, leading the St. Thomas women’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Wartburg College (Iowa) at home.

The win puts St. Thomas at 2-1 on the season. Coach Sheila McGill said attacking play was a major focus in this week of practice, and she was happy with how that translated into this weekend’s game.

“We focused on our attacking runs and movement off the ball, and it really came together today,” McGill said. “It was great to see our wide players finally becoming involved in the play and becoming really dangerous.”

Despite St. Thomas’ strong finish, the first 10 minutes of play favored Wartburg. The Knights dominated possession and made it difficult for the Tommies to get the ball out of their own half of the field.

The Knights’ early advantage culminated with a dangerous free kick into the box, which goalkeeper Jenny Grahek bobbled and dropped; however, Grahek was able to fight through the chaos inside the box and recover the ball, keeping the score level.

Two minutes later, the Tommies responded with a chance of their own when forward Nicole Sheehan found open space down the right wing and sent a cross into the box. The loose ball found Glaser 15 yards away from the goal. She slotted the ball just inside the left post, giving the Tommies a 1-0 lead.

“We keep talking about this play where the wide forward … slots it back through the middle. Most of the time (the field is) completely open,” Glaser said about her goal. “The midfielders don’t really track us, and if we’re in that right spot at the top of the box, it’s just an easy finish.”

“I try to get the corner and find (our midfielders) … slot a ball through and try to get that easy goal,” Sheehan said.

Glaser’s goal brought the Tommies’ attack to life and put them in control of scoring chances and possession for the rest of the game. St. Thomas had three more quality scoring chances in the first half, including a strike from forward Hannah Pawlik that rang off the right post and another chance from Glaser just before halftime that forced the Wartburg goalkeeper to make a diving save.

The Tommies maintained control in the second half as they continued to tally shots and scoring chances.

Forward Katy Scherer got on the end of a cross from Sheehan in the 60th minute and volleyed the ball on frame, but a Wartburg defender was able to get in front of the shot and end the scoring chance.

Only five minutes later, Pawlik put another shot off the woodwork as her right-footed strike from just inside the box ricocheted off the top of the left post and flew across the face of the goal, before a Wartburg defender cleared it.

Despite the flurry of chances in the second half, Glaser’s lone goal would be enough to secure the victory as the Tommies completed the shutout, their second of the season.

McGill was happy with her team’s offensive play, but would like to see her players finish on more of their scoring chances.

“I think we’re creating a lot of opportunities. I still think we can put the ball in the back of the net a little bit more than we are, but we’ve hit posts and we’ve created many of the chances that are going to be dangerous,” McGill said. “I think we are headed in the right direction for the beginning of our season.”

The Tommies have this week off before traveling to Illinois to play Wheaton College Saturday and the University of Chicago Sunday.

“We play really tough teams on the road on Saturday and Sunday,” McGill said. “Both teams are nationally ranked right now, so those are the types of things we have to prepare mentally and physically for all week.”

Jacob Sevening can be reached at seve8586@stthomas.edu.