SIOUX FALLS - After entering a point in three of their last four games, University of Sioux Falls Soccer was handed a 2-0 defeat by No. 15 Northern State on Sunday afternoon. The cougars fall to 2-6-2 overall with a  2-4-1 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition.
 
NSIC leading goal scorer Ninfa Ramirez scored both goals for the Beavers (7-1-0, 6-0-0 NSIC) and USF was out-shot 19-9. The Cougars put four of their nine shots on goal and USF goalkeeper Morgan Perkins collected nine saves of MSU's nine shots on goal.
 
Lola Weiss had a shot early for the Cougars, putting a fifth-minute shot on frame, but it was stopped by the MSU keeper. The Beavers then took a 1-0 lead four minutes later with Ramirez finding the back of the net after the Cougars couldn't fully clear a corner kick.
 
Weiss added another shot in the 16th minute which was again saved. Despite the 2-0 final score line, the match wasn't nearly as one-sided as previous contests with Minot State. In the 32nd minute, USF was called for offsides, as they continued to counter the Beavers.
 
Early in the second half, Danielle McClure found space and launched a shot that sailed wide of the net. Minutes later Ramirez found the back of the net when her shot was deflected off a USF defender and caromed into the left side of the goal.
 
Right back Erin O'Tool had a shot sail high in the 69th minute and her header off a free kick was stopped two minutes later. Lily McKown had a shot stopped in the 74th minute, following Elisa Glab's shot, which was blocked.
 
The Cougars had a quality scoring attempt in the 78th minute when Becca Schmitz made a run and was fed by Lola Weiss's long pass, but her shot was blocked by a diving Minot State defender just inside the 18-yard box.
 
Sioux Falls returns to action on Friday, Oct. 7 at Winona State then return home for a match against Upper Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 9.