Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Just one day after a difficult loss to the University of Minnesota-Crookston, the Minot State University women's soccer team got their first win in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 1-0 result over Bemidji State.

"Yesterday we didn't play how we know we can and obviously that's devastating," game-winning goal scorer Chloe Melton (So., F, Fleet, England) said. "We knew we had to come out for sure today fighting hard for every ball. We really did that today. We just worked as a team, for the team. We deserved the win."

In the first half of play, both teams had decent looks at goal but failed to score and the game remained in the balance heading into halftime. Minot State held a 7-4 edge in the shots category.

The Beavers constant pressure from the start of the second half paid off when Melton received a ball at the penalty spot off a cross from Kristin Long (Jr., M, Mesa, Ariz.) and slotted it past the keeper in the 59th minute of play.

"I really needed that boost of confidence for myself and the team and I think hopefully we'll catch fire now and keep rolling with it," Melton said.

Bemidji didn't back down after giving up the goal early on in the second half, though. Goalkeeper Celene Johnson (Jr., Rocklin, Calif.), who made her first start in goal for Minot State Sunday afternoon, made three of her four saves in the match in the second half.

"We were playing really well the whole game," head coach Jason Spain said. "We had taken over the game at that point, but we scored so late we kind of hit our kill mode."

Despite the heavy pressure from Bemidji State in the final 20 minutes of play, Johnson earned a shutout in her first start of the year.

Gemma Biasetto (Jr., F, Albuquerque, N.M.) previously started every game in goal for the Beavers, but Spain decided to play her on the field today.

"Gemma is the best athlete, I think, on the field," Spain said. "I think the only team that has athletes like her is Mankato.

"Celene, has better hands. We're going to give up some height, but Celene's good in the air, she's good on crosses. I just thought, we haven't scored, and Gemma is much better in that center spot than anyone else on our team. That gap is bigger than the gap between her and Celene."

Spain's decision paid off for Minot State, and he said Biasetto will remain a forward in the near future.

The team will have a full week of training before their next match on Saturday, Sept. 27 against nationally ranked Southwest Minnesota State. The following day, the Beavers will play host to Sioux Falls.

With the win, Minot State improves to 2-2-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the NSIC.