MINOT, N.D. – Just one minute and 32 seconds into the game Minot State University women's soccer was able net a goal with a header from Ninfa Ramirez (Jr., Perris, Calif.).

The final 88 minutes were filled with penalties, collisions and more fast scoring from the Beavers as they pulled out a 3-2 victory over the University of Mary in both team's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener Tuesday at Herb Parker Stadium.

"Our girls know how to win," said head coach Jason Spain. "We learned that last year. Overcame two penalty kicks which is tough mentally, but it didn't faze us a bit."

Both of Mary's goals came from penalty kicks as the physical play from Minot State earned them a total of 11 fouls and two yellow cards on the night. Mary finished the night with two yellow cards as well with a total of eight fouls.

The Beavers we able to overcome the penalties with two goals coming from freshman Taryn Love (F, Minot, N.D.). Coming off the bench Love had only played 44 minutes in the three games prior.

"We've seen a lot of separation in practice," Spain said. "She's been a little scared in front of the net. [Assistant coach] Nate Gutierrez did a good job, he's been working with her, composing her. She did exactly what they worked on so that was quality."

Assists from Sydnee Canales (So., F, Manteca, Calif.) and Chloe Melton (Jr., F, Fleet, England) provided great shots for the freshman to score her first two collegiate goals.

"Obviously Chloe and Sydnee balls were perfect," Love said. "They couldn't have been placed better. It helps that I was in the right place in the right time. The way they sent those in definitely had an impact on it."

Not only were the assists crucial to Love, but her experience playing locally gave her an advantage others on the team may not have had.

"Playing against Mary is like playing against a bunch of my old high school teammates," Love said. "I know six girls on that team that I've played against for five years. I know how they play and what they do. I wasn't just going in blind against a team that I've never played before."

The Beavers, up 3-2 late in the game, wanted to seal the victory by trying to score late. With added offensive pressure in the final minutes the team, and Love, wanted to get another goal.

"My lungs couldn't take it anymore," Love said. "I had to step off for asthma. I wanted it, but I can't complain about the two that I had."

Not only did Love experience scoring for Minot State for the first time, but she also was able to experience her first home game with MSU. The homecoming crowd, 576 in attendance, did not disappoint.

"It's exciting," Love said. "You don't expect them to show up shirts off, chests painted. It's cool to see them all come and cheer us on. Even when we got down they kept us up. They didn't have any doubt in us at all even if we had doubt in ourselves. Fans are a huge thing for us. It feels good to have your name being yelled while you're running down the field, especially after we score."

Minot State will play at Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. and again at Bemidji State on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.



About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.