DULUTH, Minn. – A solid 90-minute effort fell just short for MSU Moorhead soccer on Sunday afternoon. The Dragons fell to Minnesota Duluth, 2-1.
MSUM would open the match in control of possession with neither team offering up much offense through 10 minutes. Dragon keeper
Rylee Truslow would start a break for MSUM in the 13
th minute, tossing a ball to
Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen. The senior, who is often found on the Dragon backline, showcased her speed, sprinting up field with room to maneuver.
The Bulldog defense would allow Nielsen to inch closer and closer to the penalty area before Nielsen showed off her rocket leg. The Aarhus, Denmark, native launched a high shot that required a leaping stop from UMD's Jordan Rosenfeld.
Truslow would stop her first shot of the match in the 24
th minute as the Bulldogs looked to capitalize on a corner kick. The junior would stall a high shot to keep the match scoreless. Minnesota Duluth would offer up a deep shot following a free kick in the 30
th minute that was also stopped by Truslow. The Nellysford, Va., product would be tested again in the 35
th minute on a fast-moving free kick that required a diving save from the junior. The ensuing corner kick was thwarted by the Dragon defense.
Before the end of the half,
Lilly Johnson would have a nice look on net after a pretty touch pass from
Madalynn Hopkins. However, Johnson's shot would not have enough power to get by Rosenfeld. Late in the period, Minnesota Duluth would attempt a low shot that required another nice, diving save from Truslow. Through 45 minutes, the squads remained scoreless.
The scoreless match would be short-lived as Minnesota Duluth would quickly connect on a goal in the 46
th minute. MSUM would not need much time to equalize as the Dragons came roaring back on offense.
The Dragons would work the ball near the Bulldog penalty area with
Becca Cook delivering a nice ball to a streaking
Sophie Thompson. The freshman dashed forward, playing in a cross that bounced once before finding the right foot of Hopkins, who fired an impressive one-timer that flew straight into the net. After 47 minutes, the teams were tied again at one goal. For Hopkins, it was her second goal of the season.
Neither team would get a shot off prior to the 66
th minute as the home club would score again late in the 65
th minute. A nice cross found a sprinting Anna Tobias, who offered up a sliding shot that narrowly passed by a diving Truslow. Hopkins would attempt to equalize with a deep strike at the 75-minute mark, but Rosenfeld would make another leaping stop.
In the late stages of the game, Minnesota Duluth would do a nice job of playing keepaway from the Dragons. In turn, MSUM could not manage the offense to equalize as the Bulldogs held on for a 2-1 win.
Up Next
MSUM (1-11-2, 1-8-1 NSIC) will now look towards a matchup with nationally-ranked Minnesota State next Friday beginning at 3 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.
