MANKATO, Minn. — No. 3 Minnesota State (16-1-2, 12-1-2) defeated St. Cloud State (9-7-3, 8-5-2) 3-0 on Monday at The Pitch in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament, advancing to the semifinals. The Mavericks scored twice in the first half and tacked on a late third goal to seal the win.
Amara Smith scored the first goal, added an assist and shared the team lead with four shots, including two on goal. Smith has registered four or more shots in two straight games, and scored in eight straight matches.
Lauren McAlpine made nine saves over 90 minutes and recorded her 15th shutout of the season.
Ruthie Gyasi scored and put both of her shots on goal. Gyasi has scored in two consecutive games.
Mila Rustin added a goal and matched Smith with four shots.
Maddix Archer put Minnesota State's first chance on frame at 4:48 and sent another shot high at 7:15, while McAlpine kept the Huskies off the board with saves on Linsey Trapino in the ninth and 14th minutes and Gianna Fiorelli at 20:57. After a Mavericks corner at 22:34, Smith finished
Reese Hilsenbeck's assist at 23:10 to give Minnesota State a 1-0 lead. McAlpine added a save on Jordan Kardelis at 29:36, and the Mavericks earned another corner at 34:26. The corner led to their second goal in the opening half as Gyasi scored on a header off
Brenna Hudson's corner kick. Both first half goals came off Maverick corner kicks. St. Cloud State tested McAlpine once more on Darby Allen's 40:28 shot, but Minnesota State added a late corner and a
Teagan Jurek attempt before taking the 2-0 lead into halftime.
With the score at 2-0 early in the second half, Minnesota State pushed forward as Smith took a shot at 45:45 before Hilsenbeck, Rustin, and Gyasi took attempts during a two-corner stretch from the 51
st minute to the 57
th minute. The Huskies worked back into the half with chances, forcing McAlpine saves at 49:16 and 66:41 and adding a corner at 71:26, but the Mavericks kept the 2-0 score intact. After a Smith shot went off the post, Rustin buried a shot giving the Mavericks a 3-0 cushion in the 78th minute. Minnesota State also absorbed a late stretch that included multiple St. Cloud St. shots resulting in McAlpine and team saves, closing out the half and finishing with a 3-0 win to advance to the semifinals.
With the win Minnesota State has clinched home field advantage for the remainder of the tournament. They will be the host site for the final two rounds starting on Friday, Nov. 6. The Mavericks will play either Concordia-St. Paul or Northern State at 1 p.m.
