NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The fourth-seeded St. Olaf College women's soccer team picked up its first-ever victory in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoffs by topping fifth-seeded Saint Mary's University (Minn.), 2-1, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday afternoon at Rolf Mellby Field.

Goals in each half from sophomore Sadie Klassen and senior Tessa Anderson gave St. Olaf (10-6-1) a 2-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the second half and the Oles hung on despite Saint Mary's (11-6-2) getting one goal back with just over eight minutes remaining. St. Olaf had lost its first game in each of its previous five appearances in the MIAC Playoffs.

With the win, St. Olaf will head across town to take on regular-season champion and top-seeded Carleton College in the semifinals on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Wednesday's other semifinal sees third-seeded St. Catherine University take on the second-seeded College of Saint Benedict after the Wildcats defeated sixth-seeded Macalester College, 3-1, in the other quarterfinal.

Klassen got the opening goal of the game – her team-leading 10th of the season – in the 30th minute, heading in a free kick first year Marit Klagge took from near the right corner flag to get into double figures on the season. Klassen is the first Ole to score at least 10 goals in a season since Mackenzie Schoustra '20 in 2018.

The Oles maintained their one-goal advantage until the 55th minute, when Anderson was in the right place at the right time for her eighth goal of the season. Sophomore Katie Korbas got her head to a Klagge corner from the left side and the ball found Anderson to steer home from right in front of the Saint Mary's goalkeeper.

Klagge's two assists brought her season total to four, which is tied with first year Cat Duffy-Shaw for second on the team. With 18 goals between them, Anderson and Klassen are the highest-scoring pair of Oles in the same season since Lindsay Howard '12 and Catie Christoffel '12 combined for 23 goals in 2009.

Samantha Munson got one goal back for the Cardinals late on, scoring unassisted in the 82nd minute for her third goal of the season. Saint Mary's could only generate one shot off target in the final eight-plus minutes of the contest.

Senior Grace Sprangers collected her fourth victory of the season with one save in the game for St. Olaf, while Alexis Nguyen took the loss with two saves for the visitors. The Oles outshot the Cardinals by a 19-9 margin in the game, but shots on goal were just 4-2 in St. Olaf's favor.