Lauren Hoeppner picked up her fourth shutout of the season on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University.

MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State soccer team relied on the play of many different faces in their fifth victory of the 2015 season. Freshman Morgan Cottew (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the way for the Mavericks scoring her fourth, fifth, and sixth goals on the season and in her career.

With the win, Minnesota State increases its record to 5-1-0 on the season and 3-0-0 in the Northern Sun.  After the match, SMSU's' record drops to 2-3-1 on the season and 2-1 against NSIC competition.

Minnesota State came out flying in the first half of action with junior midfielder Kiana Nickel (Wayzata, Minn.) scoring her team-leading sixth goal of the season.  At 11:35 of the first frame, junior midfielder Dana Savino (Vanias Heights, Minn.) passed the ball over from the right side of the box to the left. Nickel picked up the pass and booted the ball into the right upper 90 of the goal.  Then in the 25th minute of play Savino kicked the ball from outside of the box to Cottew.  Cottew was able to slide past the mustang defense taking the ball and making a move to the left of mustang goalkeeper Kristy Leopold, and tucking the ball into the back of the net, closing out the first half of play.

At the end of the first 45 minutes in the match, MSU bolstered a 9-3 advantage in shots and 7-1 in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Hoeppner (Lakeville, Minn.) saved the lone shot she was challenged with throughout the first half.

The second half of play didn't see much action until the last five minutes of the game.  At the 85:40 mark, Cottew caught a pass that was served up by sophomore defenseman Abby Nordeen (Huntley, Ill.).  She then dribbled to the right side of Leopold and let loose a quick shot to the right side of the net, hitting the twine for her second of the game.  Cottew's third goal, and sixth on the season (tying Nickel for the team lead) came in the 89th minute when there was a scramble in front of SMSU's goal and she was able to tap in a loose ball.

The final score ended at 4-0 with Minnesota State holding a 19-9 advantage in shots and a 14-1 mark in shots on goal.

Hoeppner claimed the win, recording her fourth shutout in 2015 and saved the lone shot she was faced with keeping from hitting the back of the net.  She also increased her record to 5-1-0 on the season.

MSU will take action next on Friday September 25th as they travel North to Bemidji, Minn., squaring up against the Beavers of Bemidji State at 7:00 p.m.