MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's soccer team battled a fighting Augustana Sunday afternoon at The Pitch in Mankato.  Senior Korey Kronforst (Cary, Ill.) scored twice in the second half to cement Minnesota State's win the second round of the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Central Region Tournament.

After the win, the Mavericks move increase their overall record to 18-1-2 on the 2015 season and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

After the first half of action, both Minnesota State and Augustana University were deadlocked at zeros as neither team found a real scoring opportunity.  Each team had generated two shots on goal with Augustana claiming the upper hand in shot attempts at seven compared to Minnesota State's six.  Maverick goalkeeper, senior Lauren Hoeppner (Lakeville, Minn.), made both saves that she was challenged with while Augie goalkeeper Taylor Machacek countered with making the two stops she was challenged with as well.  

The second frame showed more action as Minnesota State buried two goals to finish out the game.  At 56:41, freshman Morgan Cottew (Minneapolis, Minn.) played a ball up to Kronforst who was streaking and found an opening past the Augustana defense.  Kronforst rocketed a shot from the left at the top of the Viking box to the right side of the net.  Machacek got a piece of the ball with her finger tips before it clanked of the right post and into the back of the net.  Then, with just under five minutes remaining, freshman Bri Lindstrom (Apple Valley, Minn.) crossed the ball in from the right side of Augustana's end to Cottew who tapped the ball to Kronforst in the box to drill home her 19th goal on the season.  

The Mavericks had four players who played throughout the entire 90-minute match, not including Hoeppner.  Minnesota State also displayed their depth throughout the game as eight substitutions logged minutes for MSU compared to Augustana's two.

Hoeppner ended the game tallying three saves while Machacek stopped four of the shots she was challenged with.  Minnesota State ousted the Vikings in shots by a clip of 14-12 and in shots on goal 6-3. Hoeppner increases her record to 18-1-2 on the year while marking her 10th shutout on the season.

Minnesota State will travel to Warrensburg Missouri the play Central Missouri in the third round of the NCAA DII Women's Soccer Tournament. The game is scheduled for Friday , November 20th.