ST. PAUL, Minn. – The 2021 season has been a campaign of epic proportions for the Yellowjacket women's soccer team. The team captured the first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles in program history, and along the way shattered the school record for wins in a season. There have also been school record win and unbeaten streaks, making this the most storied season since the birth of the program in 1994.
 
The most important piece of history, however, came Saturday, as the Yellowjackets made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament. Their opponent in the historic contest was St. Catherine, the winners of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Wildcats entered play Saturday as the host of the regional and the No. 25-ranked team in the nation.
 
For most of the match, the Yellowjackets hung tough, but in the end, St. Catherine proved to be too much, as it defeated the Yellowjackets 4-0.
 
The loss snapped the Yellowjackets' unbeaten streak at 17 (16-0-1).
 
The Yellowjacket defense was under attack most of the day, as the Wildcats attempted 14 shots in the opening half. The defense bent but did not break until late in the opening frame. Amanda Elton scored with 1:48 to go in the half, and St. Catherine led 1-0.
 
Early in the second half the Wildcats scored a back-breaking goal when Emma Watt scored just 3:21 in to make it 2-0. Rachel Holm found the back of the net in the 73rd minute to push the advantage to 3-0. Then, with just under three minutes to play in the match, Emily Stephens scored to make the final score 4-0.

St. Catherine had the edge in shots attempted at 22-4. Shots on goal favored the Wildcats 16-2. Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) attempted three of the four shots in the match for the Yellowjackets, and had one of the two shots on goal. Kenzie Oehlerking (Farmington, Minn./Farmington Area) had the other shot on goal for the Yellowjackets.

As she has done most of the season, Jenna Lang (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) got the start in goal, and she finished the match with 11 saves. Lane completes her freshman season with a 16-3-1 record.
 
The Yellowjackets finished the 2021 season 18-4-1.