MARSHALL, MINN. – The Minot State University soccer team got off to a hot start as the visitors against Southwest Minnesota State going up 3-0 after just 14 minutes and 38 seconds of play.
 
Starting off the waterfall of scoring was senior Chloe Melton netting her fourth goal of the season matching her single-season high from 2013. The goal was assisted by Maritssa Perez and was the only assist for the Beavers.
 
Just 96 seconds later Andrea Franco scored her first goal of the year and moved the lead to two goals. Less than four minutes after that Ninfa Ramirez scored her ninth goal of the year.
 
Five minutes and 16 seconds passed between the first and third goal, just the third time in MSU history that three goals have been scored in fewer than 10 minutes.
 
The Mustangs were struggling to find the right part of the Beaver offense to attack throughout the game and MSU exposed that during those five minutes.
 
"If they pressed us then Ninja hurt them and if they sagged a little then our midfield hurt them," head coach Jason Spain said.
 
On the defensive end for Minot State the team allowed the Mustangs just five shots compared to the Beavers 24. Four of those shots, however, for SMSU were on target and resulted in four saves for goalkeeper Leila Torres who subbed in at the 21-minute mark.
 
"It was a great team win today," Spain said. "We played well at every level."
 
Freshman Ashley Hunter capped off the day with her first career goal with 13 minutes left to play.
 
Minot State will play again tomorrow, October 2, at Sioux Falls. The game is scheduled to begin 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.