Soccer splits two over weekend, shows promise

The Minnesota State women’s soccer team split games this past weekend with Ferris State and Grand Valley. The women have now met each end of the spectrum, after opening their season with a draw they now sit on a 1-1-1 record heading into their second home-stand this weekend.

Opening up the weekend, the Mavericks earned a 2-0 win over Ferris State on Friday. While the Mavs struggled to get on the board during their first game, they wasted no time getting the offense going in this outing. Just over four minutes into the game Alesha Duccini knocked one in off an assist from Taylor Kenealy.

The rest of the half came and went without any more scores from either team. Just less than fifteen minutes into the second half, Minnesota State struck again when Senior Morgan Cottew put the Mavs up 2-0 with an unassisted goal. Cottew’s goal proved to be enough as MSU went on to claim victory.

“To get a taste of victory, to play well which I thought we did for the most part is a big step for us. Good learning process here today and through this week so I’m encouraged by the results here,” Head Coach Brian Bahl told Minnesota State Athletics Media.

Goalie Alexa Rabune recorded her first shutout victory and had three saves on the day. Minnesota State out-shot Ferris State, 19-3.

Sunday didn’t treat the women as well as they matched up against the talented Grand Valley State team who entered the game with 2-0-1 record after beating St. Cloud State 8-0 at the Pitch prior to MSU’s game vs. Ferris State.

The Mavericks didn’t quite meet the same fate, but Grand Valley still walked away with a 4-1 win.

“I think the score line is a little deceiving,” Coach Bahl said to Minnesota State Athletics Media. “Shots were even, we created some significant changes. We just have to get a little better at finishing that final third,” he went on to say.

Grand Valley State put the first points on the board twenty minutes into the game and didn’t stop. Going into the half, Grand Valley led 2-0 and after fifteen minutes of the second half went by they held a commanding 4-0 lead over Minnesota State.

Just over 70 minutes into the game, the Mavericks scored their first and only goal coming from Kenealy off of an assist from Jenny Hoeter. The rest of regulation happened without any more goals from both teams and Grand Valley earned a 4-1 win.

Goalie Alexa Rabune took the loss and made five saves. Shots on the day were dead even at 16 each, but GVS had the edge in shots-on-goal 9-4.

“I think overall as a team collectively I liked their effort and I think we played pretty well,” Bahl said to Minnesota State Athletics Media.

The Mavericks will start conference action next weekend when they play Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rivals St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth at The Pitch.