Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University scored early in Saturday's match and left the dramatics to the defense.

The Beavers took a 2-1 just 34 minutes into the match on Zoe Fisher's (So., CM, Cambridgeshire, England) seventh of the season and held off Concordia University, St. Paul the rest of the way for a key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's soccer win at Herb Parker Stadium.

“I think that shows that we are getting more comfortable with our attack,” said MISU head coach Jason Spain about the early goals. “Getting the early goals we good for us, but I think this is the first time someone has tied us after we got the lead. They (the Golden Bears) are so good with throws and corner that I was happy to get away with just one.

“But I was a little frustrated with being limited to just two. We had a lot of chances.”

The Beavers (6-2-1 overall, 4-2-0 NSIC) had plenty of opportunities in the second half to pull away from CU, but couldn't capitalize. Minot State outshot CU 7-2 in the second half and held a 5-0 shots on goal advantage, but couldn't get the extra goal.

“What it really cost us was rest for tomorrow,” said Spain. “(CU) made it a little more dicey than anyone else has so far. The frustrating thing with soccer is there are no field goals. You can wreck someone all day and have nothing to show for it. (The Golden Bears) are a good team and with how good they are at corners and throw-ins, you never know.”

The teams traded fast goals in the first half as MISU's Jamie Council (Jr., F, Atascadero, Calif.) scored off a free kick, beating CU goalkeeper Emma Gartner with a low liner to the near post. It was Council's third of the season just 2:11 into the game.

The Golden Bears (4-4-1, 3-2-1) countered with a goal off a scrum in front of MISU goalie Marie Torres (Sr., San Bruno, Calif.) about eight minutes later as Jess Bianchi found a loose ball in front and netted it.

Minot State finished off a fast 35 minutes with Fisher's goal at 34:19. Fisher gathered a bouncing pass from Lexy Kidd (Sr., M, Sutter, Calif.), fanned on one attempt, before lifting a perfect arced shot over Gartner for the game winner.

“These are the games that you have to win if you are going to have a home playoff game. The Mankato game (Minnesota State Sunday) is gravy,” Spain said. “We talked about it this week, this is the team you need to beat if you think you are a playoff team.”

Torres picked up her sixth win of the season without facing a ton of shots. She finished with two saves, but was steady in goal for the Beavers. Gartner ended with eight saves in the loss.
The Beavers take on the No. 6 ranked team in NCAA Division II as they play host to Minnesota State Sunday at 1 p.m.