SIOUX FALLS – Record-setting offense, stingy defense and a clutch shot by a senior proved to be the formula for University of Sioux Falls Soccer's fifth win of the season, a 1-0 overtime victory over Minnesota Crookston on Sunday afternoon. The Cougars continue to bolster their best NCAA Division II season credentials with a 5-8-3 overall record and they stay in the hunt for a spot in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament with 15 points and a 4-6-3 record in league play, placing them 10th on the league table.
 
Senior midfielder Danielle McClure launched USF's program-record 34th shot in the 95th minute of play, and she was rewarded with the game-winning goal for the Cougars. Her first career goal came off a corner kick from Lindsey Power, which was Power's third assist of the season.
 
Despite the 1-0 final score, USF dominated the game both in possession and scoring chances. In the 95 minutes of action, Sioux Falls registered 34 shots to Minnesota Crookston's three. Of those shots, USF put 12 on goal while the Golden Eagles had their one shot on goal saved by USF goalkeeper Morgan Perkins, who finished with her third shutout of the season and ninth in her career. USF had a season-best 12 corner kicks while limiting UMC to two on the afternoon.
 
USF's leading goal scorer Lauren LaFavre led the Cougars with eight shots, putting one on frame. Four different Sioux Falls players had two shots on goal and nine different Cougars recorded multiple shots in the game.
 
Early in the game, USF nearly broke the game open. After two shots from LaFavre in the opening minutes, Chessa Novotny sent a header off one of Power's corner kick just to the side of the goal. The Cougars had several more shots blocked before McKayla Philippi tested the UMC goalkeeper in the 13th minute, but Philippi's effort was saved.
 
Philippi put another shot on frame in the 16th minute and Becca Schmitz followed with a SOG in the 17th, but neither were able to break the scoreless tie. After a lull in USF's relentless attack, Alexandria Scott nearly put in another header off a corner kick in the 34th minute, but her redirection of Power's serve was saved by a UMC defender on the goal line.
 
Despite 17 shots in the first half, the Cougars entered halftime tied with the Golden Eagles at 0-0. Minnesota Crookston had one shot in the opening minutes of the game, but couldn't put it on goal.
 
Finding their bearing against the wind, the Cougars were slow to start the second half before returning to the offensive. Schmitz had another scoring effort saved in the 57th minute after Kassidy Graber and Scott missed the target.
 
The Cougars had a nice buildup after connecting several passes in the 66th minute, which led to Graber finding space near the top of the penalty box. On her first touch, the freshman midfielder sent her shot above the goalkeeper only to have it sent back by the crossbar. Off the rebound, Kori Fink was off target with her shot from distance.
 
Perkins faced her only challenge of the afternoon when UMC's Maggie Gibbon's long free kick nearly carried over the USF keeper but she punched it over the goal in the 73rd minute. Following Perkins's save, Lovato and Fink both had shots saved before a final flurry from the Cougars closed regulation.
 
Philippi had a header right in front of the goal blocked and Graber finished with three shots in the final five minutes, including the final needing to be saved by UMC.
 
In overtime, USF's attack finally paid off. Following LaFavre's eighth shot of the game, the Cougars earned their 12th corner kick of the game. Power served the ball one last time and McClure put it away, bouncing it off the bottom of the crossbar before it crossed the goal line.
 
Sioux Falls makes their final push at the NSIC Tournament next weekend. The Cougars will face crosstown rival Augustana on Friday, Oct. 27 at the AU's Morstad Field at 3 p.m. In their regular season finale, USF hosts Wayne State on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. at the USF Sports Complex.