The top-rated team in the nation got a pair of second-half goals as No. 1 Minnesota State University edged the University of Minnesota Duluth 2-0 under the lights of Malosky Stadium on Friday evening.
UMD (6-9-0, 6-6-0 NSIC) dropped to .500 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play despite an outstanding performance by its goalkeeper, as senior
Marissa Rosa made 11 saves against No. 1 Minnesota State (15-0-0, 12-0-0 NSIC).
HIGHLIGHTS• Rosa stopped 11 of 13 shots, well-above her previous career high of eight saves. Sophomore Dana Savino nettered her ninth of the season, and senior Rebecca Pederson netted her second, but Rosa denied MSU leading scorer, junior Korey Kronforst, on multiple occasions including pulling a ball back from the line from close range.
• Senior forward
Maureen Stormont led the Bulldogs with a pair of shots, while senior midfielders
Katie Schneider and
Jennifer Smith accounted for both of the Bulldogs' on-target shots. Stormont remains tied with Jen Warrick Reierson ('01) for the most goals in a Bulldog career (52) and three back for the highest point total (125).
The opening half was a see-saw battle as both teams went through a feeling-out process in the early going. Minnesota State had better chances, but Rosa seemed up to the task with three tremendous saves - two leaping up to stop balls in the top corner, and the third stopping Kronforst's point-blank attempt late in the period. The Bulldogs were stymied by MSU's defense throughout the match, but never looked out-matched by the top-ranked Mavericks, giving them all they could handle from a physical standpoint as the teams would finsih with 16 fouls - 10 on MSU. Savino, in the 54th minute, and Pederson, in the 73rd minute, each scored the goals on booming kicks from 20 yards out as Minnesota State edged UMD.
UP NEXTUMD will play host to Concordia University, St. Paul for senior day on Sunday at Malosky Stadium. Opening kick is set for 1:00 p.m.
