Mavericks Claim Ninth NSIC Regular Season Championship in 4-2 Win Over Huskies
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 3 Minnesota State (15-1-2, 12-1-2) defeated St. Cloud State (9-6-3, 8-5-2) 4-2 on Thursday at Husky Stadium. With the win the Mavericks have clinched a share of the NSIC regular season championship with UMary as both teams finished with a 12-1-2 record in NSIC play. Due to the Mavericks heads up win over the Marauders this season, they will be the number one seed in the NSIC tournament.
This marks the ninth regular season championship in program history, and the eighth under head coach Brian Bahl. This season is the third straight season and fourth out of the last five that MSU has claimed the top spot in the conference.
After a scoreless first half, Minnesota State scored all four of its goals in the second half as all six goals came after halftime. Minnesota State finished with 11 shots, eight on goal, and was credited with six saves.
Amara Smith scored twice and led Minnesota State with four shots, putting three on goal. Meghan Sullivan recorded a goal and an assist, with her goal marked as the game-winner. It was Sullivan’s first goal of the season. Ruthie Gyasi converted her lone shot for a goal. Lauren McAlpine played all 90 minutes in goal and finished with six saves.
Minnesota State reached halftime scoreless after absorbing St. Cloud State pressure, including corner kicks at 2:32 and 2:53 and a Linsey Trapino shot that missed top left at 4:27. Smith supplied Minnesota State’s first listed shot at 9:24, and St. Cloud State added four more corners from 12:55 to 14:46 before Reese Hilsenbeck put a shot on frame that Zoe Fujino saved at 18:15. McAlpine saved Kelly Sprague’s attempt at 28:14, Anna Stromberg had a shot saved at 31:40, and McAlpine stopped Jordan Kardelis at 33:19. Minnesota State held through a late St. Cloud State corner and a Reese Zediker shot wide left at 38:34 to take a 0-0 match into halftime.
Minnesota State built a 3-0 second-half lead with goals from Gyasi, Smith and Sullivan, then had to steady the match after St. Cloud State cut into the lead with two goals in quick succession. Gyasi opened the scoring off Mila Rustin‘s assist at 51:29 to put the Mavericks in front, and it wouldn’t take them long to add on as Smith scored just under two minutes later firing a shot into the upper left of the net, quickly making it 2-0. McAlpine saved Sprague’s shot at 60:15, and Minnesota State added pressure with attempts from Smith, Addie Dobratz and Elan Litt. Sullivan scored at 63:11 for a 3-0 advantage as she booted the ball from the 45-yard line as it bounced over the Husky keeper and trickled into the net. Stromberg later forced another save before a corner kick at 68:40. St. Cloud State cut into the deficit when Kardelis scored from Cady Compton at 75:28 and McKenna Breunig scored from Trapino at 78:43, making it 3-2. Smith scored again at 81:02 to ice the game and give the Mavericks a two-goal lead once again. McAlpine added three saves in the closing stretch preserving the lead as Minnesota State finished off the win and celebrated claiming their third straight NSIC regular season championship.
