SIOUX FALLS - In a back-and-forth game between University of Sioux Falls Soccer and Minnesota Duluth, a second-half goal proved to be the difference as the Cougars suffered a 1-0 defeat on Saturday. Sioux Falls drops to 2-9-2 on the season with a 2-7-1 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
The Cougars out-shot Minnesota Duluth in both halves and by a 17-13 total in the game, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Jackie Montes and Chessa Novotny both had two shots on goal with Novotny shooting a team-high four times.
 
In a scoreless first half, the Cougars held a 9-6 advantage in total shots with each team putting two on goal. Just after the 12th minute, USF had a series of scoring chances, beginning with Alexandria Scott's free kick attempt that sailed just over the crossbar. Lola Weiss's shot missed high and Novotny's shot inside the 18-yard box was blocked.
 
USF goalkeeper Morgan Perkins turned away Minnesota Duluth's first shot on goal in the 34th minute just before Scott fired a shot from deep that was saved and Alexa D'Acunto's shot inside the box was turned away by a diving save by the UMD goalkeeper.
 
Perkins added a save in the 41st minute to keep UMD off the board then Carley Campbell and McKayla Philippi and both fired shots in the final minutes of the first half but each missed the target.
 
After a series of shots from UMD, including another scoring effort stopped by Perkins, the Cougars pushed forward. Novotny fired two shots that were saved by the UMD keeper in the 62nd and 65th minutes.
 
The Bulldogs then broke the scoreless tie with a goal in the 67th minute, connecting on a redirected blocked shot from just outside the box. The Cougars responded with several scoring chances, but they couldn't find the back of the net.
 
Jackie Montes's long run was rewarded with a pass, but her shot was saved by UMD's Sisley Ng again. Lauren LaFavre had a shot inside the box blocked minutes later and Becca Schmitz's shot from 10 yards out was stopped by Ng who closed out for another diving save.
 
The Cougars nearly struck in the 87th minute off a corner kick. Montes struck a shot in the box but it was stopped by the UMD keeper and D'Acunto followed with a shot off the rebound but it was blocked just after coming off her foot. In the 89th minute, Weiss added the Cougars' final shot off a free kick, but it was again stopped by Ng to preserve the win for UMD.
 
The Cougars conclude their weekend home stand on Sunday, Oct. 16 with a 1 p.m. game against St. Cloud State.