Box Score NSIC / US BANK SOCCER TOURNAMENT PHOTO GALLERY

MANKATO, Minn. – It took 110 minutes, a shootout, a bevy of shots allowed and a bunch of key saves by Marie Torres (Sr., G, San Bruno, Calif.) for Minot State University women's soccer to earn its biggest win in the young program's history.

The Beavers' Emily Rebelo (So., F, Sacramento, Calif.), Zoe Fisher (So., M, Cambridgeshire, England) and Lexy Kidd (Sr., M, Sutter, Calif.) all scored in the shootout while Torres came up with two huge saves and was aided by the crossbar twice to secure the win over No. 3 ranked and top seeded Minnesota State University in the semifinals of the NSIC / US Bank Women's Soccer Tournament Friday at the Pitch at Gage Towers.

The game finished officially with a 1-1 double overtime tie, but Minot State moves on to face No. 2 seed Winona State in the championship Sunday at 1 p.m., by virtue of a 3-2 shootout advantage.
“You have to feel pretty good going into a shootout with an athletic goalkeeper like Marie,” said MISU head coach Jason Spain. “I can't say enough about how she played. She kept us in this the entire way. Our defense was put into a tough situation with how they attacked and overall we responded.”

Both teams scored on its first try in the shootout as Rebelo buried her attempt. On Minnesota State's second shot, Torres made a huge save. Fisher gave Minot State a 2-1 lead and again Torres was up to the challenge, getting a piece of the third attempt and clanging it off the crossbar.

Kidd put Minot State in a commanding 3-1 position with her attempt. After MSU scored and the Beavers missed – hitting another pipe in the process – Minnesota State's final attempt ricocheted off the crossbar sending the Beavers into a wild celebration.

“After the Upper Iowa loss (in September), we talked about we need to have the mentality that we don't lose on the road,” Spain said. “It doesn't matter who we play, that is our mentality.”

Minot State (14-3-3 overall) struck first as Tara McPartland (Sr., F, Sandy, Utah) buried a corner from Fisher in the 30th minute. Fisher and McPartland have been keys to the Beavers running its unbeaten streak to 10 games (8-0-2). It was McPartland's fifth goal of the season and her third game in a row with a goal.

“I can't ask for anything more from my seniors. We have gotten everything out of Marie that we expected coming in. Lexy has played lights out down the stretch and Tara has really come on,” Spain said.

The Beavers just about made the 1-0 lead stand as they fought off furious rally from the Mavericks (16-1-2) in the second half. Torres made eight of her match-high 13 saves in the second half.
But MSU got the equalizer in the 89th minute as Tori Meinhardt pushed a rebound just over the end line with 1:36 remaining in the contest.

Minot State didn't muster much offense throughout the match, getting outshot 35-3 overall, including a 27-1 disadvantage in the second half and overtimes.

This marks the first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference postseason championship appearance in Minot State University's history.