Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- Top-seeded Minnesota State saw its 2013 campaign come to an end at the hands of fifth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State by way of the Mustangs' 2-1 victory in NCAA second round action Sunday afternoon at The Pitch.
 
No. 7 MSU closes the year at 17-3-2 overall and also sees its home unbeaten streak snapped at 36 matches, which is tied for the 12th-longest streak in NCAA Division II history. SMSU improves to 16-3-2 and advances to the NCAA DII Central Region championship next Friday against Minnesota Duluth. It was also the Mustangs' first win over the Mavericks in program history.
 
Minnesota State outshot the Mustangs 10-2 in the first half, but it was SMSU who took at one-goal lead into halftime. The Mustangs received a corner kick in the 13th minute that was received by freshman Naomi Peterson who played senior Vanessa Corona, before Corona tapped her second goal of the year into the left side.
 
The Mavericks came out with a vengeance in the second half peppering SMSU and freshman goalkeeper Brienna Dehkes for the first 25 minutes. The pressure paid off in the 70th when freshman Kiana Nickel (Wayzata, Minn.) took a centering pass from junior Jess Bowe (Anoka, Minn.) and drilled her seventh goal of the year into the right side past a diving Dehkes.
 
However, SMSU responded in the 83rd minute courtesy of freshman Morgan Weyer-Coates's second marker of the year. Coates intercepted a pass and dribbled into the top of the box then blasted a ball that deflected off the left post by diving junior Molly McGough (Centennial, Colo.) and trickled into the net for the match's decisive goal.
 
For the match, MSU outshot SMSU 27-7, including a 15-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Mavericks also owned a 4-2 edge in corner kicks. Dehkes recorded a match-high 13 saves, while McGough stopped two for the Purple and Gold.
 
Minnesota State ends the season as Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular-season and tournament champions, in addition to making its eight NCAA tournament appearance and sixth in a row.