ST. PAUL, MINN. – Tying 1-1 with Minnesota State, Mankato after two overtimes and a total of 110 minutes of play less than 22 hours from the beginning of the game against Concordia, St. Paul the Minot State University soccer team was a little tired.
 
Luckily the Beavers (10-1-1, 8-0-1) were able to score early and rely on their defense to keep the Golden Bears (6-6, 5-4) from tying the game.
 
"Mankato is a really tough team so going into overtime with them is a battle and I think we were a bit tired today," said forward Chloe Melton (Jr., Fleet, England). "We still did our job and grinded out a win and kept the pressure."
 
Melton assisted the lone goal on the day crossing it in to Ninfa Ramirez (F, Jr., Perris, Calif.) for her fifth assist of the season and Ramirez's 10^th goal.
 
"I saw my space and pulled out wider," Melton said. "They put a great through ball into me and I took a touch, looked up and saw Ninja running in. When Ninja's there she's going to get it in, you just have to get it to her feet. She did a great job of finishing the shot."
 
Melton and Jamie Ayala (F, Sr., Temecula, Calif.) saw a lot of success, with six combined shots and two on goal, on the right side of the field due to a weakness the team saw on film.
 
"We knew their left back pushed forward too high on video so we tried to work our right wing a little bit," said head coach Jason Spain. "That was good. It was just a tough game after yesterday. Our team was clearly fatigued so there was not as much coordination as there usually is."
 
Despite being worn down, and playing with a reserve, the Beaver defense once again denied their opponents from getting many clean shots off, allowing a single shot on goal throughout the game.
 
Ryann Rafferty (D, Jr., Littleton, Colo.) filled in for Emilie Rebelo who sat out with a knee injury as a precaution.
 
"Ryann was great," Spain said. "She looked really good. All of her clears were good, she didn't get beat on the dribble and delayed just enough. She's the understudy for Kelli [Creese] and Haley [Lolmaugh]. She's been waiting patiently and today she did well."
 
Spain said it gives him more confidence as a coach knowing he has players that can fill in when he needs them to.
 
Minot State remains tied atop the standings, as Minnesota State and Augustana were able to win their second games of the weekend as well.
 
Minot State will host Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State next weekend on October 17 and 18. Both games are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.