MANKATO, Minn. -- The Minnesota State women's soccer team defeated the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 4-0 to win the championship match of the 2021 Spring Soccer Tournament in the Maverick All-Sports Dome, Sunday.

The Mavericks secured the championship win with a pair of goals in each half. Junior forward Brynn Desens led the Mavericks on the attack with a team-high two goals in the match. Sophomore Olivia Thoen provided each of Desens' assists for two assists.

Desens opened the scoring early with a goal in the 2nd minute following a perfectly placed over-the-top feed from Thoen that made it 1-0.

In the 36th minute, sophomore Tia Martin put the Mavericks up 2-0 with a goal assisted by freshman Haley Mendoza. After one half, MSU owned a 2-0 lead in the score column with an 18-2 advantage in shot attempts.

Early in the second half, the Mavericks continued their scoring ways when junior forward Jenny Vetter found the back of the net, finishing a feed from junior Nadia Lowery in the 46th minute.

The final score was 4-0 after Desens sealed it with her second goal of the match in the 59th minute. Thoen provided Desens with another helper, this time on a throw in, that led the Maverick forward into the box where she scored her second goal of the match.

In goal for the Mavericks, sophomore Mackenzie Rath made the start and played the entirety of the first half while not being called upon to make a save, she saw two Mustang shot attempts. Freshman Ava Blackney came in for the second half and made three stops on six attempts. The MSU tandem was perfect in the combined clean sheet.

For the Mustangs, Meghan Harkin played the entirety of the game and made nine saves on 13 shots.

The Mavericks will return to action next Sunday in Wayne, Neb., when they take on the Wayne State Wildcats at 3:00 p.m.

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