Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Saints returned to the AQ Athletic Field last night (Mar. 30) to take on the Rochester Christian University Warriors. The game saw many highlights, including an 18-point victory, a new single-game record, and multiple Saints scoring their first career goals for AQ.

Kennadie Minerich provided eight helpers with many of the assists coming from behind the net. This accomplishment adds yet another accolade for the accomplished senior. Those eight assists in a single game is not only a career-best mark for Minerich, but it also broke the program record set by Anna Curcuru back in 2017.

Vanessa Bailey and Elizabeth Sailors both scored their first career goals for Aquinas. Sailors struck in the second and fourth quarters while Bailey found the back of the net for her first time at the start of the fourth quarter.

Aquinas 19, Rochester 1

Aquinas dominated the Warriors from the first whistle. Shaylin Rings found paydirt twice in the first five minutes with a pair of unassisted goals. Ashley Suske found her first goal of 2024 roughly five minutes later before Rings completed her first quarter hat trick.

At the conclusion of the first quarter of play, the Saints led 5-0 with goals coming from Rings (3), Suske (1), and Brianna Trepins (1). Rings and Minerich both picked up an assist.

The game experienced a bit of a lull to start the second before Rings broke the silence. Rings scored another two goals with the first coming from a Trinity Reynoso assist. Sailors improved the lead to eight with her first goal in maroon colors before Suske added on two more goals before halftime for a hat trick of her own.

A brief intermission provided a bit of relief for the Warriors before the AQ scoring started up again. Rings scored yet again and then Minerich recorded a pair of unassisted goals to begin the second half.

Rochester finally found the back of the net with 6:49 left to play in the third, but that joy was short-lived. Rings found her seventh and eighth goals of the match to close out the third quarter for a commanding 15-1 advantage.

Vanessa Bailey opened the fourth quarter with her first career goal and Alexis Villarini made it 17-1 with another goal within five minutes of the final quarter. The AQ offense slowed down, but Reynoso and Sailors both netted another goal to reach 19 goals on the game.

By the Numbers

Minerich assisted five of the final six goals to reach her record-setting performance. Her two goals gave her double-digit points for the fifth time in her career.

Rings finished the game with an incredible eight goals and one assist, marking her just one point shy of double-digit points. Her eight goals and nine points were both career-highs.

Suske's three goals were a career-high for the senior.

Up Next

The Saints will be looking to take this positive momentum into Wednesday's matchup against Concordia. That game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.