ST. PAUL, Minn. - Willing their way to victory, University of Sioux Falls Soccer rode another shutout from goalkeeper Morgan Perkins and freshman Lauren LaFavre provided the game-winning goal for a 1-0 win at Concordia-St. Paul. The Cougars improve to 2-5-1 on the season with a 2-3 overall mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition.
 
USF's two wins in conference play match the program-best since they transitioned to NCAA Division II and joined the NSIC in 2012. The Cougars also match last season's overall win and point totals while improving their conference point total from four to six with two league wins this season.
 
Facing 26 total shots by Concordia-St. Paul (1-4-2, 1-1-2 NSIC), the Cougars' bend but don't break defense held up enough and Perkins was stellar in goal. The sophomore netminder recorded nine saves, stopping all of CSP's shots on goal for her second shutout of the season and the fourth of her career.
 
The Cougars were held to just two shots in the first half, one from LaFavre and another from Lola Weiss. All that was needed was one of LaFavre's scoring efforts as she was the benefactor of a deflection off a Concordia-St. Paul defender and found the back of the net for the first time in her career.
 
Perkins turned away two more shots after LaFavre's 38th-minute goal and Sioux Falls took a 1-0 lead into halftime. After the break, CSP pushed forward early, looking for an equalizer. The Cougar defense withstood the quick rush, blocking a pair of shots and Perkins notching another save.
 
The USF back line continued to challenge the Concordia-St. Paul attack with Perkins recording four more saves in the second half. Looking to add an insurance goal, Weiss recorded a second shot in the 81st minute and Becca Schmitz had a shot sail high five minutes later.
 
After Perkins' ninth save of the match, USF fought off two corner kicks in the final minutes of the game to preserve their victory.
 
The Cougars return to Sioux Falls for a pair of home games, hosting U-Mary and Minot State on Oct. 1 and 2, respectively, at the USF Sports Complex.