Box Score Aberdeen, S.D. --- The Minnesota State soccer team didn't skip a beat in their fourth consecutive road game, Sunday afternoon as they defeated the Northern State 5-1.

With the win, Minnesota State increases its record to 9-1-0 on the season and 7-0-0 in the Northern Sun., After the match, NSUs' record drops to 4-5-1 on the season and 2-4-1 against NSIC competition.

Just two minutes and five seconds into the first half, junior Kiana Nickel (Wayzata, Minn.) paved her way through to the middle of the box, moving Northern State's goalkeeper Brittany Tietz off to the left side, and Nickel chipped the ball to senior Korey Kronforst (Cary, Ill.) who headed the ball in to the back of the net. A little over two minutes later at 4:35 of the half, sophomore Jenny Hoerter (Stevens Point, Wis.) played a through ball from the back line, setting Kronforst up for a nice finish, giving the Mavericks a 2-0 lead. Then, at the 22:01 mark of the half, Nickel grabbed a rebound off a shot she initially took and booted it in for her ninth goal of the season.

At the end of the first half, Senior goalkeeper Lauren Hoeppner (Lakeville, Minn.) recorded one stop on one Wolves' shot on goal while NSU's Tietz produced nine saves on 12 Maverick shots on goal, including four from junior Dana Savino (Vanais Heights, Minn.). Minnesota State also held a 4-0 advantage in corners after the first period.

In the second half, at 54:58 Minnesota State kept the engines rolling as Hoerter was able to place a ball across the box to Savino who headed it in for her third marker of the season and Hoerter's second assist of the match. Then, just over 12 minutes later at 67:50 of the game, Minnesota States depth started to make an impact as freshman Maddie Raley (Hudson, Wis.) finished off a play that started with freshman Julia Zach (Oconomowoc, Wis.) passing the ball to sophomore Lexi Pszanka (Rapid City, S.D.) who then set up Raley for her second goal of the year. Minnesota State's 5-0 lead was cut to four goals as Northern State's Anna Bondy was able to sneak one past Hoeppner on a free kick with 20:18 remaining in the game.

By the time the final horn sounded, Minnesota State had outshot the Wolves 41-11 and held a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal. The Mavericks also carried a 11-1 mark over Northern State in corners and a position of 11-8 in fouls at the end of the match., Savino lead MSU in shot with six while Nickel and Pszanka followed with five a piece.

Hoeppner tallied her ninth win of the season and increased her record to 9-1-0. With three saves in the game, the Lakeville, Minn., native has now saved the last 21 of 22 shots she has faced.

MSU will take action next at they return home to host Minot State October 10th for Alumni Day at 1:00 p.m. Then, on October 11th they will host U-Mary at 1:00 p.m. at The Pitch.