MINOT, N.D. – Two goals in the span of two minutes proved to be the difference on Sunday morning at Herb Parker Stadium, as host Minot State University picked up a 3-1 win over the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team.
 
Emerging from the halftime break tied at 1-1, the Beavers struck twice midway through the second half and held off the Yellowjacket offense. "Credit to Minot State for challenging us defensively," said MSUB head coach Stephen Cavallo. "We responded well to going down a goal, and I'm pleased with that. We fought back into the game and had good stretches of play in the first half, which led to us scoring."
 
Lexie Bloyder scored her first goal of the year and the fourth of her MSUB career, but it was the Yellowjackets' only tally of the day. MSUB's record moved to 2-1 as it suffered its first defeat of the season. "We started the second half really well, and I thought we were going to capitalize," Cavallo said. "We just couldn't get enough going in the final bit to get back into the game."
 
The Beavers (3-0) scored in just the fourth minute, when Melanie Van Walstijn freed up space on the left wing and carried the ball towards the box. She lifted a cross in with her left foot, and Sofia Lewis was at the back post to redirect it into the net.
 
Van Walstijn nearly struck again in the eighth minute, curling a shot just over the crossbar before firing a powerful strike on target that required a diving save from MSUB goalkeeper Clare Keenan. The redshirt freshman shot stopper had five saves in the match to help keep the Yellowjackets in the game.

The equalizer came in the 28th minute, starting with a header into the goal box by Taylor Gertsch. Beaver goalkeeper Maddie Kindred came off her line and Bloyder was just able to beat her to the ball and tap it into the net for her first goal of the season.
 
The Yellowjackets built momentum after Minot State's early push, as the Beavers did not have another shot attempt until the 32nd minute.
 
Minot State took the lead with 29 minutes left in the game, using a breakaway and a deflected shot to win a corner kick. The service into the box was knocked into the back of MSUB's net for an own goal, as the hosts pulled ahead 2-1. Doubling their lead less than two minutes later, Minot State built its third goal out of the back from the goal box. Van Walstijn patiently held the ball at the corner of the box, before dropping to Maddie Underwood who lofted a high shot into the upper corner of the net from well outside the box.
 
The Beaver back line did well to limit MSUB's opportunities over the final third of the match, as an on-target shot off the foot of Jillian Hust in the 85th minute was the Yellowjackets' only other attempt of the game. MSUB's defense, anchored by junior center back Ashley Tiffin, played similarly well at the end and did not allow the Beavers another shot attempt after conceding the third goal.
 
"I was really pleased with Ashley Tiffin," Cavallo commented on the newcomer to MSUB's lineup. "Ashley brought good composure and physical play in the back line, and this weekend was really her first time playing this semester. We really thought she stepped up to the challenge."

Van Walstijn led all players with seven shots – including five on target – while Lewis had four shots and landed two on frame. Haylee Gunter led MSUB in the shots department with three, and the Yellowjackets out-shot the Beavers 16-14 while placing seven strikes on frame. Kindred finished with six saves in the match to earn the win in goal for Minot State.
 
THE BUZZ: Tiffin was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Game…MSUB is now 1-1 all-time against Minot State, with both matches being played in North Dakota.
 
COMING UP: The Yellowjackets face their most formidable opponent of the spring season next Sunday, with a noon kickoff against NCAA Division I University of Montana. Live video will be available online here and live statistics will be available online here.