CROOKSTON, MINN. – At the halfway mark, with 45 minutes gone, and 45 minutes left to play the Minot State University soccer team was once again playing a defense heavy game. The University Minnesota Crookston was matching the play not allowing easy shots.

Tied at 0-0 it seemed the match may end that way. That is until Minot State was lined up for a corner kick.

Freshman Ashley Franco (Long Beach, Calif.) set up the ball from the corner for senior Emily Rebelo (Sacramento, Calif.) to score what would be the game winning goal for the Beavers, putting the team up 1-0.

"Rebelo slammed home that corner," said head coach Jason Spain. "It was a big play."

With the goal Rebelo now has a total of 14 goals in her career tying her with Jamie Council and Jamie MacFarlane as the second most all time. With one more goal this season Rebelo will claim the sole number two spot. Zoe Fisher currently ranks first with her 26 goals from 2011 through 2013.

Without the corner kick and goal from Franco and Rebelo the game likely would've ended scoreless due to the tough defensive play from both teams.

While the Beavers (4-1, 2-0) held the Golden Eagles (0-4-1, 0-2) to just one shot on goal and six shots total Crookston was able to create a difficult matchup despite allowing six shots on goal and 13 shots total.

"We held the ball," Spain said. "Crookston is a tough team to breakdown. They kept 10 people behind the ball and do a good job of keeping you in front of them. The girls grinded out a tough win."

Another tough win is what MSU will need in their next game as they head to Bemidji State (5-0, 2-0) to play on September 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.