The Upper Iowa women's soccer traveled up to Mankato, Minn. to face the Minnesota State Mavericks in the final regular season match of 2016 on Sunday afternoon. MSU scored once in each half to claim the 2-0 shutout victory. Despite the loss, Upper Iowa remained in 8th place in the Northern Sun Conference standings, and captured a playoff birth for the third time in four years. The Peacocks drop to 8-9 overall and 7-8 in league play, while the Mavericks (2nd place finish) improve to 13-3-1 overall and 12-2-1 in the NSIC. UIU will face the conference champion Minot State in the
first round of the NSIC Tournament.
Abby Nordeen got the scoring started for the home team in the 16th minute, when she took a pass from Kiana Nickel. Nordeen sent it through the back of the net for the score and the 1-0 lead. The Mavericks held a 6-1 lead in shot attempts and a 4-0 advantage in corners in a defensive first half. Upper Iowa goalkeeper
Caila Petrie totaled four saves in the first 45 minutes, keeping the score 1-0 as both teams went into halftime.
The second half was controlled by Minnesota State as well. The Mavericks, who are receiving votes for the top 25 in the country, held a commanding 13-5 edge in shot attempts in the second half, and executed on offense just two minutes into the second frame. MSU's Morgan Cottew scored in the 47th minute off an assist from Jenny Hoerter, and the home team held a 2-0 lead they would never surrender.
For the match, MSU led in shots (19-6), shots placed on goal (9-2), and corners (4-0). Neither team recorded a corner kick in the second half. Petrie tallied seven saves for the Peacocks, but dropped to 8-9 in net.
Upper Iowa began the weekend in fifth place in the conference standings, but despite dropping the final two games of the year, they remained in the top half of the league to qualify for the 2016 NSIC Tournament. The Peacocks will travel to the top-seeded Minot State Beavers on Wednesday, Nov. 2 for the first round game. The winner advances to the semifinals, where the remaining top seed will host. Wednesday's match at Minot State will begin at 5 p.m.
