MANKATO, Minn. --- A two-goal second half proved to be the difference Friday afternoon at The Pitch as Minnesota State defeated St. Cloud State 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 15-1-6 on the season. With the loss, SCSU finishes its season with an 11-4-5 record.

The Huskies struck first in the first half as they netted the first goal at 14:46. A Maverick foul set up a free kick for the Huskies on the MSU side of the field. Grace Olson's kick then bounced off a Maverick defender and found the back of the net to put SCSU up 1-0.

The Huskies would carry their 1-0 lead into halftime as they outshot the Mavericks 7-3 in the first half.

Minnesota State struck quick in the second half to time the score at 1-1. Sophomore Maddix Archer raced down the field and put a shot on net that SCSU's Meriel Orham stopped, but junior Addison Clarey was right there to kick in the rebound for her eighth goal of the season to tie the match at 1-1 with 36:39 to go in the second half.

Six minutes later some good passing from Archer and Clarey set up junior Mailie Mathis who then found the bottom left corner of the goal for her second goal of the season to put the Mavericks up 2-1 with 30:42 to go in the match.
The Maverick defense would hold the rest of the way as MSU came away with the 2-1 win.

SCSU outshot the Mavericks 12-9, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Huskies also held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks as well.

Minnesota State takes on Missouri Western on Sunday in the second round of the NCA Central Region Tournament. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at The Pitch.