WAYNE, Neb. — Minnesota State (14-1-1, 11-1-1) defeated Wayne State (5-8-3, 4-6-3) 1-0 on Friday at WSC Soccer Complex. It was a windy day on the pitch, causing many shots to sail wide. After a scoreless first half, the Mavericks scored the only goal in the second half and kept Wayne State off the board. Minnesota State finished with a 14-11 edge in shots and put seven shots on goal, while
Lauren McAlpine made four saves in the shutout.
Amara Smith scored the game-winning PK goal, and put all three of her shots on goal. Smith has scored in two consecutive games, now has three game-winning goals this season and 10 goals overall. McAlpine recorded four saves over 90 minutes and finished with her 14th shutout of the season which is tied for the second most in program history, only trailing her 16 shutouts from a year ago.
Addie Dobratz led Minnesota State with four shots and put one on goal. Dobratz has recorded four or more shots in back-to-back games.
Minnesota State generated most of the first-half chances, finishing the half with nine shots and three corner kicks, but Wayne State kept the match tied 0-0 at halftime. Earlier, the Mavericks created an early set-piece push with corners at 3:01, 8:36 and 11:06, while
Mila Rustin sent a shot high and Smith put an effort on frame that Alexa Hofstetter saved. Minnesota State kept the pressure on later in the half with
Maddix Archer's blocked shot, Dobratz forcing a save and then missing high.
Anna Stromberg fired a shot that Hofstetter made an impressive save on to hold MSU off the scoresheet,
Lauren Schindler added another shot on net shortly after but was unable to find the back of the net. Wayne State created chances of its own through the middle of the half, including a shot at 27:10 and a Paige Nichols attempt at 29:56 that McAlpine saved. The half also included Minnesota State yellow cards to
Alivia Snow and Schindler before the sides went to the break scoreless.
Minnesota State started the second half with pressure, earning three corner kicks in the first five minutes and forcing Hofstetter to save
Alicia Hoffman's shot at 47:06. McAlpine kept the match scoreless with saves on Olivia Thompson at 47:29 and Morgan Mancuso at 56:41. After a foul on Smith in the box, she got a chance to give the Mavericks the lead and her shot went to the right side of the net as Hofstetter dived to the left. After Smith's finish, Minnesota State worked through a physical stretch and continued to create chances, getting shots from
Ruthie Gyasi, Stromberg, Dobratz and Smith, whose 79:52 attempt was saved. McAlpine added another save on Thompson at 65:08, Briella Thompsen sent Wayne State's late attempt out top left at 88:27, and the Mavericks held Wayne State scoreless the rest of the way to finish off the 1-0 win.
With the win Minnesota State has now clinched home field advantage for the first round of the NSIC Tournament, which will be played on Nov. 2.
Up next, Minnesota State travels to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face Augustana at 1 p.m. Sunday at Morstad Field.
