SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Minot State University overcame first-half nerves and a talented Colorado Mesa University team to earn its first win of the season 1-0 in NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Thursday at Cal State San Bernardino's Premier Stadium.

“The first half was one-way traffic. We really struggled to keep our feet,” said MSU head coach Jason Spain. “We had a lot of freshmen and even our rookie junior college players looked nervous in the first half and that nervous energy made us tired fast. We played hard all game though.”

The Beavers (1-0-0) withstood the early CMU charge behind solid goaltending by junior Ashley Barcewski (Jr., G, O'Fallon, Mo.) and an ever-steady presence by NAIA All-American Marianna Danna (Sr., D, Sutter, Calif.). Barcewski finished the first half with four saves. What she didn't save, Danna cleaned up.

“Marianna was crazy good in the first half,” Spain said. “The whole back line played really good. Mary and company kept playing it off the back line. Our backside concentration as a whole was really good.”

MSU went into the half tied at zero and regrouped.

“At halftime, we changed the entire system,” Spain said. “The assistants did a great job and for our kids to pick it up on the fly like that was impressive. I think we have some smart kids and we were very good mentally.”

The Beavers got a lift in the second half when sophomore Jamie Council (F, Atascadero, Calif.) headed in the first goal of the season in the 71st minute.

“That goal gave us a lot of energy. Jamie was unbelievable in the second half,” Spain said.

The Mavericks (0-1-1) answered as Daniela Salinas scored about five minutes later, but the Beavers weren't done. Sidney Bockoven (So., Mid., Elk Grove, Calif.) pounded home a penalty kick after Council was fouled just two minutes removed from the Salinas goal.

“We did not need that to linger,” Spain said of the feeling after the CMU goal. “That was the keystone right there (Bockoven's goal). We would have struggled if it had gone into overtime. Their athleticism was tough to deal with and all the collisions were taking its toll.”

Spain felt his team played well after the midway break against a solid Division II team.

“They are a legit team in every position. The RMAC toughest soccer conference in country and we played well after the first half,” he said.

MSU was outshot 17-5 and CMU held a 10-4 advantage on shots on goal, but Barcewski was up to the task. She finished with nine saves in the game and made good decisions on balls sent in.

“She was definitely busy,” said Spain. “She had some key flicks and kept it out of the net. She was fearless. That's what you want. She didn't make any mistakes and probably four were game-changing saves.”

The Beavers take on Academy of Art University Saturday at 4 p.m. (PT) to conclude its Cal State San Bernardino Tournament play.