Mankato, Minn. --- #25 Minnesota State opened the home portion of its schedule on a high note Friday afternoon as it defeated #4 Central Missouri 2-0 at The Pitch.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 2-0-0 on the season, while the Jennies drop to 2-1-0. MSU also extended its home unbeaten streak to 34 matches going back to the 2016 season that started on Sept. 18.

The first half saw both teams get their fair share of shots, with the Mavericks owning a slight edge at 10-8. MSU also held a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal over the Jennies. It appeared that both teams would head into halftime scoreless, but in the 41st minute junior Molly Riley was able to find freshman Tia Martin who netted her first career goal to put Minnesota State up 1-0. Martin was able to beat the Jennies' sophomore goaltender Lindsey Johnson to the far left post.

The Mavericks did not waste any time in the second half as sophomore Brynn Desens took a pass from senior Alesha Duccini before banking in a shot off the left post to put the Mavericks up 2-0 in the 52nd minute. Desens scored her second goal of the season and MSU was able to hang on for the rest of the half and complete their second straight shutout to open the season.

Senior Alexa Rabune made all four saves for the shots she saw on net to move to 2-0-0 on the season and collect her second shutout. The Mavericks narrowly outshot the Jennies by a 16-14 margin (5-4 on goal) and also had a 3-2 corner kick advantage.

Minnesota State wraps up its homestand on Sunday as it takes on the #1 Grand Valley State Lakers. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., at The Pitch.

Senior defender Taylor Kenealy commented after the win.