Box Score MINOT, N.D. – It wasn't the prettiest soccer ever played, but Minot State University women's soccer was able to grind out a win.

The Beavers went out to a 2-0 lead and held off Southwest Minnesota State 2-1 in a physical Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win Sunday at Herb Parker Stadium.
The win gave Minot State a weekend sweep of NSIC foes and sent the Beavers to a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1).

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” said MISU head coach. “This was a physical game. It's a big win for our program.”

The Beavers (4-1-1 overall, 2-1-0 NSIC) pushed out to a 1-0 lead at halftime by virtue of Emilie Rebelo's (So., F, Sacramento, Calif.) second penalty shot goal in as many games. Rebelo's second goal of the year came in the 29th minute of the first half and gave the Beavers some breathing room.

“I thought Emilie was the difference in the game,” Spain said.

Minot State got it to 2-0 in the 72nd minute as Jamie MacFarlane (Jr., F, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) used a quick trigger on a long ball to beat SMSU's goalkeeper Sonya Smith low to the far post for her first goal of the season. MacFarlane and Rebelo combined for seven of Minot State's 14 total shots and five of its nine shots on goal.

SMSU (3-2-0, 1-2-0) didn't go away quietly, however, scored a penalty kick goal of its own four minutes after the MacFarlane goal. Autumn Hays beat MISU netminder Marie Torres (Sr., San Bruno, Calif.) low and to the right for her second of the season to chop the Minot State lead in half.

The Mustangs had some chances down the stretch, but Torres turned away the rest of the shots as she finished with three saves for her fourth win of the season. Smith finished with seven saves for SMSU.

Minot State looks to pick up its first NSIC road win of the season as they make a difficult road trip south playing at Upper Iowa Saturday and Winona State Sunday.