MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University scored six goals from six different players to roll to a 6-1 win over rival University of Mary Tuesday night at Herb Parker Stadium to clinch at least a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title.

The Beavers (13-1-1 overall, 12-0-1 NSIC) registered their 37th point of the year, six more than Minnesota State with just two games remaining. The Beavers need just one point over the final two to win the title outright. It marks the first regular season championship in school history in the Northern Sun for MSU across all sports.

"It was fun. It was a great night," MSU head coach Jason Spain said. "We got a big lead and we were able to get everyone in the game. I saw some players from the past, some alumni on the field after, and it was nice for them."

MSU started fast with a goal from senior Dalia Tapia in the fifth minute. Tapia floated a long shot that got caught in the wind and slipped in off the goalkeeper's hands at the goal line.

"I can't even explain it, no idea," Tapia said. "I have no idea how that went in, but it did. It was a big goal. Any time you can score right away it gets you going. It was nice because I've been here five years and haven't scored yet. Everyone had faith in me."

"We had a nice fast start," Spain said. "Mary's shift was good early on and giving us some trouble, but D's goal gave us some momentum and they (U-Mary) started pressing a little."

The Beavers took a 2-0 lead 12 minutes later as the steady combination of Chloe Melton and Ninfa Ramirez generated a goal. Ramirez headed a ball across the box that U-Mary's Elizabeth Heintzman saved only to have it go right to a cutting Melton. Melton burried her eighth of the year.

That stood until a flurry of goals by the Beavers early in the second half. Meagan Kawahara pushed a deflected shot in for her first goal of the season in the 61st minute, Ramirez broke her own single season goals record with her 17th on a long run and near-post shot in the 62nd minute and Ryann Rafferty capped off the onslaught with a deflection from a Ramirez feed on a free kick in the 66th minute.

"I can't explain how I've reached 17, it's a big surprise to me," Ramirez said. "I didn't think I'd get to 10 because teams would double and triple team me after last year, but we keep getting it done. It was nice to get six goals from six different players."

U-Mary (3-9-3, 3-8-2) spoiled the shutout in the 83rd minute, but MSU's Kayla Howard scored four minutes later for the final tally. It was Howard's first of the year as well. In all, MSU held a 20-10 shot advantage and registered points from nine players. Ramirez finished with a goal and two assists to pace the offense. Erin Rafferty earned her 10th win in goal, playing just over 60 minutes of shutout soccer, stopping four shots.

MSU will look to clinch the outright title with a road match Friday at Minnesota State University Moorhead starting at 3 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.