The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team completed this weekend's away games this afternoon, visiting Minnesota State University Mankato.
The game ended in a 3-0 shutout in favor of MSU, leaving UMD with a 2-5-3 (1-3-2) record.
Early on, Bulldogs goalkeeper Jennifer Norris challenged a fast-moving Maddix Archer, sliding to stop her shot. This was shortly followed by another breakaway for the Mavericks, which was redirected away from the net by UMD's defense at the last minute.
MSU had the early chances, but a rush from the Bulldogs with a cross-net pass to Anna Tobias led to UMD's first solid opportunity. The Bulldogs tried a similar pass with over twenty minutes left in the half, but the ball was just out of reach of Tobias.
Five minutes later, the Mavericks opened the scoring, after leading the shots 7-2 and rushing UMD's net repeatedly. The Bulldogs looked to answer in the last fifteen minutes of the first half.
MSU continued to control the pace on the field, but Norris made some key saves throughout the half which kept the score 1-0.
The back and forth continued into the second, although the Bulldogs were still struggling to get shots.
Ten minutes into the half and the Mavericks were still leading considerably in shots (12-4).
It was only a matter of time before Archer scored her second goal, increasing MSU's lead. This was the first game since the Maverick's season opener in August, that they'd scored more than one goal.
Norris' efforts kept her team in the game for as long as possible, but without a goal from the Bulldogs with less than half of the game left, time was running out.
Miriam Marsan's physical play led to an open opportunity to bring UMD within one, but she sent the ball high. The Bulldog's on-and-off offensive pressure continued to garner no results.
At the other end, MSU scored a third time with over fifteen minutes left in the game.
As time wound down, both teams substituted out players and had a handful of rushes, but the score stayed 3-0. This marked the second game in a row UMD had been outscored by three goals.
The Bulldogs play again at home next weekend, taking on the University of Mary Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. and then Minot State University Sunday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.
