Goalkeeper Jenny Grahek backstopped the St. Thomas women’s soccer team as the Tommies tallied their fourth shutout in five games; however, it wasn’t enough for a win as St. Thomas drew with Augsburg College 0-0 in its final game of the season Saturday at home.

Despite being eliminated from playoff contention after a 1-0 loss to Carleton College on Wednesday, the Tommies still had a chance to play spoiler, as an Auggie win would have put Augsburg into the MIAC playoffs. Coach Sheila McGill said the seven Tommie seniors playing in the last game of their career were hoping to go out on a high note.

“I love the amount of passion (the team) brought to today. They never once gave up even though they were out of the playoffs ahead of time,” McGill said.

The Tommies got out on the front foot early when, only five minutes into the game, forward Nicole Sheehan sent a low cross into the Auggie goal box from the right wing. The cross eluded the Augsburg goalkeeper, and St. Thomas forward Katy Scherer was the first to reach the loose ball. Scherer could not maintain possession, nor regain her balance to put a shot on net, ending the Tommie attack.

Only five minutes later, Augsburg had a chance to open the scoring when Grahek lost control of an Augsburg cross. Grahek coughed up the loose ball to an Auggie forward who found herself open in the box and staring at an empty net. However, the Tommies caught a break as the Auggie forward pulled her shot and sent it wide left.

Augsburg had two more quality scoring chances in the first half. Auggie forward Olivia Muyres, who leads the MIAC in goals this season, broke through the St. Thomas defense at midfield and had a clean break at goal, but was chased down and stopped by defender Morgan McConachie. Augsburg later got an open header off a corner kick, but put the shot off the crossbar and out of play.

Both teams managed five shots in the first half; however, Augsburg finished the game with a 17-13 advantage in shots. The Tommies ended the game with a 9-3 advantage on corner kicks.

Despite the Tommies inability to score, McGill was happy with her team’s offensive performance.

“They battled tooth and nail, they showed an … ability to create and had so many chances to put it away,” McGill said. “We challenged ourselves and challenged our girls to play a fast possession game, and that’s something that all the younger players are all a part of as well right now. It’s really great to see that come together.”

Both teams had multiple opportunities to score in the second half and in two frames of overtime, but neither could convert and the game ended in a scoreless draw.

The draw eliminated Augsburg from MIAC playoff contention, making it the final game of both team’s seasons. The Tommies finished with 17 points and placed eighth in the MIAC, while the Auggies finished with 20 points and placed fifth in the MIAC, one place out of playoff contention.

“Our record definitely didn’t show what kind of team we were. We battled to the end for everything, and I think it showed,” forward Hannah Pawlik said. “We played 90-plus minutes in this game and didn’t let down.”

Forward Jenna Savino said it would have been nice to get a win in the final game of her career, but she was proud of the way her team played.

“The mindset is to go out, play with your heart, leave it all out there,” Savino said. “It would have been nice to end with a ‘W,’ but a tie with a great battle is good enough to end the season on.”

Pawlik, who will be a senior next season, said one of the team’s priorities in the season is to get better and replace the seven seniors that the Tommies are losing to graduation.

“We are losing a huge portion of our team (to graduation), and I think something we’re going to have to work on is dealing with that loss and going into next season still being confident—still believing that we can come out with wins,” Pawlik said.

As for the graduating seniors, Savino said younger players shouldn’t take anything for granted.

“Playing four years of college soccer has been such an amazing experience. I can’t stress enough that you can’t take for granted the little moments … because it flies by. It’s such a fun experience,” Savino said.

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