SIOUX FALLS – In the seventh match of the season, the Sioux Falls Soccer Team fell to the Minot State Beavers in a 2-1 decision on a beautiful afternoon of NSIC action out at the  USF Sports Complex.

Minot State struck first with a goal scored by Melanie van Walstijn in the ninth minute of the match. The game had began to take shape as they traded field position for the next 15 minutes. It was then in the 26' of the match when Sofia Lewis put a goal into the back of the net for the Beavers to take a 2-0 lead over the Cougars at the half. As for the USF defense, junior goalkeeper Holli Knudsen had nine saves in the first half for the

In the second half of the match, the teams traded field position until the 66' mark when USF's Ellie Ripperda scored her first career goal for the Cougars, to cut the deficit in half to make it a 2-1 Beavers lead. 

The Cougars had seven shots on the day led by Aundria Vargas (3) and Kassidy Graber, Lauren Johnson, Ivory Donald, and Ellie Ripperda each with one a piece.

As they put the pressure on late into the match, they were unable to capitalize on a few more scoring chances this afternoon and lost a closely contested match 2-1 to Minot State. Holli Knudsen had 11 saves on the day for the Cougars.

The Cougars will be back in action this upcoming Friday October 1 at 6 p.m. against the University of Minnesota-Duluth.