Just over four minutes into the beginning of the Minot State University soccer team's game against Minnesota Duluth the Beavers found themselves up 1-0. The remainder of the game was filled with tough shots and tougher goalies as both teams tried to get another ball to hit the back of the net and failed.

With 11 shots on goal for No. 21 Minot State (11-1-1, 9-0-1) and four for Minnesota Duluth (4-8-1, 3-6-1) the goal keepers combined for 14 saves on the day, the most in a single game this season for MSU.

"I think it was more us not finishing," said junior midfielder Dalia Tapia (Perris, Calif.). "They were more physical. They had a really good goalie."

The goal that got past UMD goal keeper Jordan Melby came from a corner kick that connected Ashley Franco (D, Fr., Long Beach, Calif.) to Kelli Creese (D, So., La Verne, Calif.) for the second time in three games.

"I just try to get in the box and get my head on it," Creese said. "[Ashley] always places it in the right spot, away from the goalie and perfect to just put your head on it."

That goal secured the lead early for MSU as the Bulldogs tried to get an attack going, but couldn't get a clean shot to go in.

"They pressed our back line," said head coach Jason Spain. "They played really high, but we were able to create a lot of chances. That's what we measure ourselves by, creating chances. I thought we did a good job of that."

Overall the Beavers played well and Spain had plenty of praise for multiple players on his team.  

"[Jamie] Ayala was great today," Spain said. "Creese was very good in the midfield. It's tough when they play the two high attacking mids, but overall I thought we were good. Ashley did a really good job on their left wing and Ryann [Rafferty] filled in well. Ninja [Ramirez] did a good job of settling balls and creating chances for us."

After coming back from a two game road series last weekend the team was happy to be playing at home and feed off the energy from the crowd.

"The intensity level picks up [when we're at home]," Tapia said. "It builds for us. We have supporters and it's really nice. We have to show them that we are going to keep winning."

Minot State will play against St. Cloud State tomorrow, October 18, at Herb Parker Stadium. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.