MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Visiting Southwest Minnesota State scored the final three goals of the afternoon to help push past MSU Moorhead in NSIC soccer action on Friday, 3-1. 

The Dragons would begin the match with some spirited offense, earning the match's first shot off the foot of Becca Cook. In the sixth minute, MSUM would be afforded a penalty kick following a Mustang foul in the box. Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen would do the honors for MSUM as the shot narrowly missed, keeping the contest scoreless early in the first half. Blayke Hurley would have a chance for MSUM in the 13th minute with the shot being stalled by SMSU keeper Stella Litzen. 

Throughout the first half, Southwest Minnesota State would hold the shot advantage, 9-7, but only two of those marks were on target. Rylee Truslow would stop both shots as the teams went into the locker room in a scoreless tie. Both teams would warm up their offense in the second half as the Mustangs tried a shot in the 51st minute that was again stopped by Truslow. 

A pair of yellow cards in the 56th and 57th minute offered up chances for both clubs, but neither could put a shot on net. Madalynn Hopkins had a bending shot in the 64th minute that required a diving save from Litzen. In turn, MSUM would get a corner kick chance with Hopkins doing the honors. The freshman would rocket a cross into the penalty area, finding the head of Mason Kimble, who would direct it to the head of Lilly Johnson with the ball finding the back of the net. The double header goal was a thing of beauty for the Dragons and put them up, 1-0 in the 67th minute. 

The Mustangs would respond with a goal of their own on a freekick in the 72nd minute to equalize. Both teams would enter a physical portion of the match from there with neither team surrendering much in terms of offense. It was not until late in the match where Southwest Minnesota State would get out on a breakaway to score the game-winning goal early in the 88th minute. The Mustangs would put the game out of reach with another goal just over a minute later to win 3-1. 

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MSUM (1-13-2, 0-5-1 NSIC) will play its final home match of the 2024 season on Sunday against Augustana. The game will also be senior day for the Dragons.