No. 13 Mavericks split weekend in soccer

The Maverick Women’s Soccer team left the state of North Dakota with a draw. On Saturday, Minnesota State defeated the University of Mary 5-2. The No. 13 Ranked Mavericks were led by senior midfielder Jenny Hoerter, who scored two of Minnesota State’s five goals, bringing her to seven goals on the season. Sophomore Taylor Kenealy and junior forward Morgan Cottew also found the back of the net in Bismarck.

Unfortunately, the Mavericks’ shut-out record has come to an end. A goal in the 24th minute by University of Mary junior Caitlin Dooley was the culprit who ended Minnesota State’s shut-out streak. The team had gone 11-consecutive matches without conceding a goal, setting a school record. The streak had lasted for 1,045 consecutive minutes. The last game that the Mavericks had allowed a goal, prior to playing the University of Mary, was back on September 10, when the Mavs lost 2-0 to No. 14 ranked Grand Valley State. Entering the weekend, the Mavericks ranked nationally in multiple statistics. They were first in Goals-Against Average (0.140 goals allowed by Minnesota State per game), first in shut-out percentage (92.9 percent), and second in save-percentage (95.6 percent).

On Sunday, Minnesota State received their first loss since they lost to No. 14 Grand Valley State on September 10, falling 2-1 to Minot State University in double-overtime. This marks the first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) loss for the Mavericks. Senior midfielder Jenny Hoerter had the lone goal for the Mavericks on Sunday in Minot.

Haley Berryman scored in the 13th minute to put Minot ahead, but it was Hoerter who answered the call in the 52nd minute. The next goal would not come until the 105th minute, when Morgan Myers knocked home a header in front of the goal to give Minot State the 2-1 victory.

Minnesota State will travel to Fayette, Iowa on Friday, October 27, when they play against the Upper Iowa Peacocks at 2:00 P.M. This should be a game that the Mavericks can win, as the Peacocks have only one win at home this season, while accumulating five home losses. The Peacocks are coming off a weekend where they had defeated MSU-Moorhead 2-1, and a 2-1 loss to Northern State. The Mavericks had defeated Northern State (4-0) and MSU-Moorhead (3-0), respectively.

To wrap the weekend up, the Mavericks will return home on Senior Day at The Pitch on Sunday, October 29, with a 1:00 P.M. scheduled start time against the Winona State Warriors. This will be Minnesota State’s first home game since October 15, when the Mavericks hosted Minnesota State University – Moorhead. This is also the last regular season game for the Mavericks. Winona State is coming off back-to-back wins against Northern State and MSU-Moorhead. With two wins this weekend, and at least one Bemidji State Beavers loss or draw, the Mavericks would win the NSIC outright, being the No.1 seed in the NSIC Conference Tournament, which begins on November 1. The Mavericks do not know who they will be facing in the first round of the NSIC Tournament yet, but they do know that they will have home-field advantage, since they are the higher seed.NO.