ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead soccer used a strong offensive attack, coupled with a suffocating backline effort to claim the sqaud's first win of 2025. The Dragons defeated Nebraska-Kearney 2-0 in a neutral site game played inside Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, Minn. 
 
It was the Lopers who began the contest with an aggressive offensive attack, peppering in four shots on goal throughout the first 10 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Rylee Truslow was locked in all match and made four solid saves to keep the game scoreless. Nebraska-Kearney would also have a shot attempt careen off the right post in the early stages. Moorhead logged its first shot of the afternoon on a kick from Mary Cox that was saved by Loper keeper Susie Bovaird.

The atmosphere of the game was completely changed in the 20th minutes as a charging Bovaird ran into a streaking Brooklyn Broderick. With the physical contact on the play, Bovaird was issued a red card and removed from the match. Needing a keeper, the Lopers opted to play down a field player for the remainder of the game. Cox would fire in a shot on the ensuing free kick that was saved by new goalkeeper Madelyn Schaffert. 

While the Lopers would tally another shot on goal in the 26th minute, Truslow made another nice save. It was not long after where the Dragon offense settled in as Sophie Thompson pushed the pace in the 37th minute. The sophomore would drive to her left and fire off a kick that would have been near-unsavable, regardless of the keeper. The Auckland, New Zealand, product's shot found the top corner of the net for the inagural Dragon goal. At half, MSUM still possessed a 1-0 lead. 

Thompson would have another look early in the second half with the shot stopped by Schaffert. On the other end, MSUM's backline would not allow a shot on goal until the 70th minute, a mark that was again saved by Truslow. While Nebraska-Kearney took several shots, none would find the net prior to the 70th minute. The save from Truslow helped spark a Dragon run the other way. True freshman Ana Cecilia Walker would use her impressive speed to catch up to a long ball that was on line with the net. The breakaway attempt resulted in Walker's first career goal, putting Moorhead up 2-0 in the 72nd minute. 

In the latter stages, Truslow would save one more Loper shot on net. The Dragon backline would also take away an open net to keep the clean sheet alive. By match's end, Truslow had saved seven shots as the Dragons held on for the 2-0 victory. 

Up Next
 
MSUM (1-0-1) is pack on their home pitch next week as they host Minnesota Crookston in a non-conference match. The first of two Highway 75 Rivalry Rock games will kickoff at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 12.