Maverick soccer ready for NSIC Tournament

The Minnesota State Women’s soccer team finished up their 2016 regular season this past weekend with two shutout wins over key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponents. The Mavericks hit the road on Friday to take on Winona State University and returned to Mankato for a match up with Upper Iowa University. MNSU finished the year with a couple of wins, putting their record at 13-3-2 overall while achieving a 12-2-1 record in the NSIC.

It did not take long for the Mavericks to get things rocking, as just 1:27 into the game junior midfielder Jenny Hoerter nailed a goal off an assist from senior midfielder Dana Savino. Just over 15 minutes into the match they would strike again, this time with sophomore defender/midfielder Abby Hausken finding sophomore forward Morgan Cottew for the score. That goal would put the Mavericks up 2-0.

It was a quiet game offensively for the remainder of the game, as the match went into halftime with that score. Nine minutes into the second half, Cottew scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Hoerter. That would be the final goal of the contest, as the Mavericks would claim victory over the Warriors.

Freshman goalkeeper Ryann Rydeen earned another shutout victory with one save all game. Minnesota State out-shot Winona State 9-1. Rydeen has posted a shutout in all four games she has started this season.

The Mavericks returned to The Pitch on Sunday to take on Upper Iowa for Senior Day. The last loss for the soccer team on Senior Day was in 2010, and that winning streak would continue Sunday. The Mavs were not able to set the game off with the spark they did in the previous game, but they still managed to take an early lead. Just over 16 minutes into the game, junior defender Abby Nordeen notched her first goal of the year off an assist from senior midfielder Kiana Nickel. The Mavericks held their 1-0 lead when the halftime whistle was blown.

Just under two and a half minutes into the second half, Cottew scored her first goal of the game and third of the weekend. Hoerter set up Cottew for the score to put the Mavericks up 2-0. The team’s two points proved to be enough against the Peacocks, as Minnesota State would etch their 12th shutout victory to end their regular season.

“I don’t think today was our cleanest game that we’ve had, but down the stretch we played really, really well,” head coach Brian Bahl said to Minnesota State Athletics.

Red-shirted goalkeeper Taylor Livermore was credited with the shutout win, making two saves. This also marks her fourth start and fourth shutout. MNSU outshot Upper Iowa 9-2.

With that, the regular season is over and the Mavericks will start focusing on the NSIC Tournament. They will take on the Northern State Wolves in the first round.

“It’s just a matter of making sure we are all on our A-game, because you got to be at this point for the postseason,” Bahl said heading into the postseason matchup.

Earlier this season on October 16, the Mavericks shutout the Wolves 2-0 in South Dakota. Northern State is 9-8 overall and 7-8 in NSIC play heading into this matchup. The teams will meet up on Wednesday, November 2 at 1 p.m. at The Pitch.