MINOT, N.D. – With 2-0 win against St. Cloud State and an 8-0 start to their conference schedule the Minot State University soccer team is off to the best start in school history since joining the NSIC and NCAA Division II.
 
With two goals at the 20-minute and 27-minute mark from team leaders Ninfa Ramirez and Chloe Melton the Beavers were given a two-point cushion which they held on to until the final buzzer.
 
Melton assisted on Ramirez's goal on a through pass which put the NSIC scoring leader in perfect position to score. Melton then scored a goal of her own off a corner kick from Ashley Franco and a flick pass from Carrisa Schlesinger.
 
Not only was the offense clicking, but the rest of the team played a well-rounded game too holding the Huskies to just one shot.
 
"I thought our midfield and defense were exceptional," head coach Jason Spain said. "We didn't allow them to build much which was good. Defensively we did our job and offensively we had a lot of chances. We got two and could've have four or five."
 
This is the fifth shutout in a row recorded by the Beavers and seventh shutout overall this season. Senior Ryann Rafferty and junior Kelli Creese gave credit to their coaches and teammates for their success this season.
 
"We just have a really good shift that we always work on in practice," Rafferty said. "When that shift happens we have Yesenia Piceno who is fast and can help Kelli and I on that. Once that shift happens they can't get through us because we always have three in the area."
 
"Communication is key for us," Creese said. "We have to make sure we're always on the other team and no one is open. We try to always deny them the ball and if they get it then we can't let them turn. If we don't let them turn, they can't score."
 
The MSU goalkeepers, Erin Rafferty and Leila Torres, also, of course, play a key role in the shutouts, even when they don't face many shots.
 
"They do a great job talking to us," Ryann Rafferty said. "They are really trying to work on keeping position through us and it's almost like we have an extra defender back there which is nice."
 
Minot State will play two home games next week at Herb Parker Stadium on Saturday, October 15 against Winona State and Sunday, October 16 against Upper Iowa. Both games are 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.