Mankato, Minn. --- #2 Minnesota State goes into double overtime for the second straight match, and falls to St. Cloud State 2-1 at The Pitch on Sunday afternoon.
The loss drops the Mavericks record to 6-1-0 (3-1-0 NSIC) and snaps MSU's home unbeaten streak at 35 matches. The Huskies improve to 3-2-2 (2-1-1 NSIC) after the win.
The Mavericks scored first as sophomore Brynn Desens gathered a cross from sophomore Jenny Vetter and put the ball in the lower right corner. This was Desens' team-leading fifth goal of the season and put the Mavericks up 1-0 in the 25th minute. Minnesota State took the 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and outshot St. Cloud State 9-2 in the first half.
The Huskies answered and tied the match at 1-1 early in the second half when sophomore Claire Shea scored her second goal of the season with a shot to the lower left corner in the 56th minute of the match. The goal was assisted by junior Nicole Friis. The score remained tied at the end of regulation with the shots being even at nine in the second half.
The first overtime period went scoreless where neither the Mavericks or the Huskies managed to get a shot on goal. In the 104th minute in the second overtime, Shea put away her second goal of the game and third of the season to give SCSU the win. Shea received the ball in the box from senior Monica Mejeski, avoiding two Maverick defenders in the process.
Senior Alexa Rabune (6-1-0) suffered her first loss in net this season after allowing two goals and making four stops in the match. Sophomore Zoe Welsh (3-2-2) made six saves in the win, while allowing one goal for the Huskies.
The Mavericks outshot the Bulldogs by a 21-13 margin (7-6 on net) and held the advantage in the corner kick department by a count of 8-3 in the loss.
Minnesota State will play two NSIC matches on the road next weekend, first traveling in Bismark, N.D., to face U-Mary on Friday at 3:00 p.m., before taking on Minot State in Minot, N.D., on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
-30-
