MANKATO, Minn. – A long goal from senior Maddix Archer in the second half proved to be the difference as the No. 5 Minnesota State women's soccer team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 1-0 victory Friday afternoon over visiting Minot State.
MSU (4-0, 1-0 NSIC) tallied its third-straight shutout and improved to 13-1-6 all-time against Minot State, while winning its fourth-straight match against the Beavers. Minot State fell to 1-3 on the year and 0-1 in NSIC play.
For the match, MSU held a 21-3 advantage in shots and put 12 attempts on goal while limiting Minot State to one shot on goal. This marked a season high for the Mavericks in both total shots and shots on goal. Archer finished with the one goal, four shots and two on target to lead the team. D2CIDA National Player of the Week, senior goalkeeper Lauren McAlpine, posted her third straight clean sheet and had one save in the first half. McAlpine's 21st career shutout now has her standing alone at fourth all-time in program history.
The Mavericks dominated the attack for much of the first half, but were unable to get the breakthrough goal. In the first minute of the contest Reese Hilsenbeck had a good look, but Minot State goalkeeper Rebecca Sargent tipped the ball over the net for a corner. Sargent was up to the task twice more in the first ten minutes for a pair of saves.
McAlpine had her lone save at the 27:43 mark stopping a look from Linnea Svenzen to preserve the scoreless ledger. MSU had four more shots the rest of the half with two on target.
For the half, MSU had 12 shots with seven on frame and two corner kicks. Minot State had just the one shot in the half, while Sargent had seven saves for the Beavers. Senior Mila Rustin had two shots for the Mavericks in the half, both on frame, while 11 players had shots for MSU in the opening 45 minutes.
The shots kept coming for the Mavericks in the second half with five shots in the first 14 minutes before a nice transition play set up the Mavericks with a shot from about 25 yards out for Archer and she buried it for her first goal of the season at the 59:41 mark to give the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. The Mavericks kept the pressure on the rest of the contest to close out the win.
The Mavericks continue at home on Sunday as they face University of Mary at 1 p.m. at The Pitch.
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