Mankato, Minn. --- Lauren Kizlik scored her first goal in a Maverick uniform to help propel No. 19 Minnesota State soccer to a 2-0 win in its season-opening match against University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday afternoon at The Pitch.
After neither team scored for the first 72 minutes of the match, Kizlik — a junior forward who suffered a season-ending injury in 2016 in the season-opener at UW-Parkside (0-2-0) — got behind the UW-Parkside defense, dribbled past a sprawling goalkeeper, and finished into an open net at the 72:41 mark to give Minnesota State (1-0-0) a 1-0 lead.
Julia Zach, a junior forward, scored her first goal since Nov. 4, 2015 against Concordia St. Paul to increase the Maverick lead to 2-0 at 78:36.
The Minnesota State defense — led by seniors Abby Nordeen and Lexi Pszanka, and junior Abby Hausken, who played 90 minutes each — held the UW-Parkside offense to two shots on goal in the match and no shots on goal in the second half. The Mavericks outshot the Rangers 27-6, including a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Senior midfielder Jenny Hoerter and sophomore midfielder Julia Nellis each garnered an assist for the Mavericks.
Sophomore Ryann Rydeen (1-0-0) earned her seventh-career shutout for Minnesota State.
The Mavericks held an 8-0 edge in corner kicks.
Adrianna Bratel (0-2-0) made 12 saves in net for UW-Parkside.
Minnesota State travels to Michigan to face Ferris State and No. 2 Grand Valley State on Friday at 3:00 p.m., and Sept. 10 at 11:00 a.m., respectively.
Listen to Lauren Kizlik's postgame interview below.
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