MOORHEAD, Minn. – You can't lose if you don't give up any goals.
Minot State University women's soccer team has played by that mantra so far this season as the Beavers pushed their scoreless streak to four games with a 2-0 blanking of Minnesota State-Moorhead Sunday.
" I am very excited to be undefeated and unscored upon in our first ever four games," said Head Coach Jason Spain.
It was the third win in four tries against NCAA Division II opponents and the fourth shutout by MSU goalkeepers. The Beavers have gone four 90-minutes games plus two 15-minute overtimes without surrendering a goal as MSU battled Northern State to a 0-0 draw Friday night.
"Both goalkeepers have been solid and have done their part in organizing our backline and midfield," said Spain.
The Beavers attacking style paid early dividends as MSU took a 1-0 lead on Tara McPartland (Forward, Jr., Sandy, Utah) goal in the 23rd minute. McPartland took a feed from Jamie McFarlane (Forward, Fr., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and raced in all alone to score a breakaway goal against Moorhead goalie Victoria Hoffman.
Minot State (3-0-1 overall) struck again with an insurance goal late in the first half as Lexi Kidd (Midfielder, Jr., Browns Valley, Calif.) netted her third goal of the young season on a penalty kick with just 46 seconds remaining in the first half.
Neither team mustered much offense in the second half as the Beavers clamped down on MSU-M's offense the rest of the way. Each team managed just one shot on goal in the second half.
The Beavers early push almost netted a goal in the 17th minute as senior Jordan Kramer (Midfielder, Las Vegas, Nev.) snapped a shot off the post.
"I definitely think we are proving that we belong and can compete," added Spain. " We are very excited to keep focusing on improving and staying focused on the next task at hand."
Minot State continues on the road this week as they travel to Billings, Mont., to take on Carroll College Sept. 11 and Rocky Mountain College Sept. 12 in a key early-season road trip. It will be the first NAIA opponents the Beavers have played this season and two teams MSU will likely battle with for a chance at an NAIA national tournament berth.
