MANKATO, Minn. --- It was all Minnesota State Friday afternoon at The Pitch as the Mavericks earned their fifth consecutive shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Winona State Warriors.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 8-2-1 on the season, including a 6-1-1 NSIC record. With the loss, the Warriors drop to 3-7-0, including a 2-6-0 conference record. MSU has won its last five outings and outscored its opponents 17-0 in that time.
The Mavericks carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime after sophomore forward Allie Williams buried a free kick into lower-left corner of the net from a couple of feet above the box in the 21st minute.
The second half saw junior forward Jenny Vetter score two more goals to up her weekend total to six in the 65th and 68th minute to give the Mavericks a 3-0 lead. Another junior forward in Brynn Desens scored the Mavericks' fourth goal on a penalty kick in the 81st minute to make it a 4-0 lead, where the match ultimately stood.
Sophomore Mackenzie Rath was strong in goal for MSU and was called upon to make a couple huge saves early, including a penalty-kick stop in the 33rd minute, while earning her fourth career clean sheet with a five-save showing in the win which upped her record on the season to 4-1-1. Sunday's clean-sheet victory marked the Mavericks' seventh shutout of the season.
Minnesota State outshot Winona State 24-11, including 13 shots on goal compared to five shots on goal for WSU. MSU also edged WSU 9-8 in corner kicks.
The Mavericks play on with more NSIC soccer action at home next weekend, playing host to the St. Cloud State Huskies, Friday at 3:00 p.m., before taking on Minnesota Duluth, Sunday at 1:00 p.m., at The Pitch.
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