MANKATO, Minn. — Minnesota State defeated Concordia-St. Paul 4-0 Friday at The Pitch. Minnesota State scored three times in the first half and added one goal after halftime while holding Concordia-St. Paul scoreless. The Mavericks dominated throughout the first half building a lead which they would not lose. The Golden Bears fought back hard in the second half but could not convert.
Amara Smith scored the game-winning goal, added an assist and led Minnesota State with four shots, including three on goal.
Lauren McAlpine played 90 minutes in goal, made six saves and recorded her tenth shutout of the season.
Mila Rustin tallied a goal and an assist on two shots.
Anna Stromberg converted her lone shot into an unassisted goal. It was Stromberg's first goal of the season.
Concordia-St. Paul had the first shot on frame when Lexi Pettit forced a save from
Lauren McAlpine at 1:02 before Minnesota State scored three times in less than six minutes with Smith factoring into all three goals as the Mavericks built a 3-0 halftime lead. Earlier, McAlpine made a save in the opening minutes, before Smith beat a CSP defender downfield and finished off Rustin's assist at 15:33 for the first goal. Smith then assisted Rustin just 40 seconds later on a long-range shot that caught Sydney Potter off guard. Not long after
Meghan Sullivan floated a perfect pass that Archer was able to redirect a header into the back of the net, turning Minnesota State's early opportunities into a three-goal advantage. Archer now has five goals on the season, good for second best on the team. The Mavericks kept creating chances after that, earning three corner kicks from 26:08 to 32:31 while
Meghan Przybilla forced a save and Archer hit the woodwork. Concordia-St. Paul generated later looks, including saves by McAlpine on Sophia Haase at 30:55 and 38:10, but Minnesota State carried the 3-0 advantage into halftime.
Stromberg scored a rocket of a goal in the 83rd minute to account for the half's only goal and put Minnesota State ahead 4-0. Earlier, the second half opened with chances both ways, as
Amara Smith had a shot saved at 46:03,
Lauren McAlpine stopped Lexi Pettit at 46:44, and Sydney Potter saved Smith's penalty kick at 50:53. Minnesota State later generated a sustained attacking stretch with three corners and three shots from the 73rd through 82nd minutes, including two attempts by
Callie Stanley and a saved shot by Przybilla before Stromberg's goal.
Addie Baumhauer added another saved shot in the 86th minute, and McAlpine made a final phenomenal save on a long range shot in the 89th as Minnesota State closed out the 4-0 win.
Up next, the Minnesota State soccer team travels to Winona, Minn., to face Winona State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
