by Noah Grant / Sports Director

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The St. Cloud Crush girls soccer team shut out the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm 4-0 on Tuesday. The Crush scored twice in each half and were backed by solid goalkeeping from sophomore Reeghan Stevens to earn their second win of the season. 

In the first half, St. Cloud struck early, as junior Sydnee Stanoch scored just under four minutes in. It was the second of the season for Stanoch, with junior Claire Theyn picking up the assist. 

With 15 minutes elapsed in the half, the Crush doubled their lead off a strike from sophomore Marilinda Santo, who powered one home from the left side of the penalty area. Stanoch recorded her third point of the game with an assist. 

The Crush finished the first 40 minutes with the 2-0 lead and outshot the Storm 7-3 in the opening frame. Sauk Rapids-Rice had a good chance in the second half from sophomore Scarlett Bauer, but Stevens made the save. 

Midway through the second half, St. Cloud senior captain Isabella Frantesl maneuvered past multiple defenders and found the back of the net to make it 3-0. Brielle Zellman, another senior captain, rounded out the scoring at the 12-minute mark by deftly dribbling around the Storm keeper and tucking the ball across the line. 

With the win, St. Cloud improves to 2-1 on the season. The Crush will be back in action on Thursday as they travel to face Willmar. The Storm dropped to 0-3 on the season.