MANKATO, Minn. - After a strong first half that saw the Bemidji State University soccer team take a 1-0 lead, the Beavers allowed two second-half goals to fall to No. 20 Minnesota State University, Mankato 2-1 Sunday afternoon.

Forward Danielle Uphoff (Jr., Brainerd, Minn.) got things started with a goal late in the first half after BSU fought hard to keep things even.

Defender Alysha Domiano (So., Dayton, Minn.) collected a ball in the middle of the field 30 yards away from the BSU goal. She touched a pass to midfielder Kelly Hyvare (Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn.), who launced the ball downfield to Jenny Stromberg (So., Elk River, Minn.). Stromberg couldn’t quite catch up to the ball, but she made the goalkeeper come out of the net. An MSU defender poked the ball away before the goalkeeper could catch up to it, but the ball went right to Uphoff with an open net due to the goalkeeper who fell down.

With the keeper out of the net, Uphoff cut the ball past a defender who tried to stop her, and she dribbled a shot towards the net. The keeper tried to get to the ball, but it had already passed the goal line before she could save it, giving the Beavers the 1-0 advantage in the 29th minute.

Even with the early lead that lasted until halftime, the Mavericks still had 45 minutes to find a goal.

The first one came just a minute into the second half, with a goal by Laura Leber. Leber scored another goal in the 72nd minute, and the Beavers were unable to find an equalizer despite an increase in pressure late in the game.

The Beavers are now 0-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action, and move to 6-2 overall on the season. The road team was outshot by the Mavericks 10-3.

Minnesota State (3-1-2, 1-0-1) had five corners to just three by BSU.

Goalkeeper Samantha Ross (So., Stillwater, Minn.) falls to 6-2 on the season, despite saving eight shots.

Bemidji State returns to the BSU Soccer Field for its first conference home game of the season at 4 p.m. Sept. 26 against Minnesota State University, Moorhead. This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Beavers prevailed in the first matchup 3-2 on the strength of three second-half goals.

 

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