Box Score MANKATO, MINN. – Tied at the top of the conference going into the game the Minot State University soccer team left Minnesota State in the same position they came in.
 
With a 1-1 tie the two teams stand at 9-1-1 overall with a 7-0-1 conference record. Also sitting atop the conference is Augustana with an identical record.
 
With all three teams tied for the number one spot both the Mavericks and the Beavers games against Augustana mean that much more.
 
"The key point is we have Augustana at home and they have to go to Augustana," said head coach Jason Spain. "The conference is still up in the air."
 
The two goals in the game were scored just five minutes apart and it was the defense that highlighted the rest of the day.
 
Minnesota State took a total of 21 shots and many of those shots came close to the goal, but the Minot State defense was there to block the balls and keep them from hitting the back of the net.
 
"They were amazing today," Spain said of his defense. "I said they wouldn't score on a runner and they didn't, they scored on a corner."
 
The Beavers scored from a free kick that the team played as if it was a corner since the ball was place in a similar location. Ashley France, who kicks the corners for Minot State, placed the ball for Kelli Creese to head it in and tie the game.
 
"We had a lot of good runners there that affected the goalie and left the middle open," Spain said. "Ashley is great at kicking those balls and getting it in position."
 
After the goals were scored Minot State couldn't find a way to keep the offensive pressure.
 
"Their speed fatigued us a lot earlier than we're used to," Spain said. "We battled. We were on the road and it was a good game, it was well played."
 
Minot State plays at Concordia, St. Paul tomorrow, October 11, at 1 p.m.