Jamestown, N.D. – The Jimmies made a valiant effort against one of the best teams in the country, but two second half goals put the University of Jamestown women's soccer team on the wrong end of a 2-0 shutout to the No. 5 Minnesota State Mavericks Friday afternoon.
After their defeat in their home opener, UJ falls to 1-4-1 and 1-2-0 in the NSIC. Minnesota State gets their fifth consecutive shutout as they get to 6-0-0 and 3-0-0 in conference play.
The Mavericks had several shots early one, including three in the first 10 minutes. Jamestown had some ball possession as well, but struggled a bit in getting the ball deep into the end of Minnesota State field.
Into the 33
rd minute,
Emma Belyk had a deep shot off of Jamestown's first corner kick of the game, but it was a few feet high of the net. The Jimmies looked good in the final few minutes of the game, and
Julliet Lopez had a great look at a transition shot from just outside the box with one minute remaining, although this too was off target of the net. .
Halftime came around with the Jimmies holding one of the best teams in Division-II scoreless in the first half. Jamestown had three shot attempts but all were off target or blocked away. Minnesota State had six, two of which netminder
Taylor Musser had to make saves on.
About seven minutes into the second half, there was a loose ball around the top of the Jamestown box and it got to Reese Hilsenbeck who was unaccounted for to the left of the penalty marker. Musser went right to cover the left side of the goal, but Hilsenbeck shot low right and it resulted in a goal for the Mavericks as they broke the ice in the 53
rd minute.
Offensively in the second half, the Jimmies could not replicate their success that they had for the last few minutes of the first half. Jamestown struggled with the Mavericks aggression defensively and could not get the ball anywhere near the Minnesota State net.
Julia Fischer had a deep shot in the 64
th minute that was high and to the left part of the goal and out of the reach of Musser for the second goal of the afternoon which doubled the Minnesota State lead.
The Jimmies needed to kick it into high gear, but the Mavericks were just a bit too good defensively. Jamestown got a shot by
Langley Grow from the left side of the field in the 87
th minute, however this was deep and not a particularly dangerous opportunity, just like the other Jamestown shots on the afternoon. Minnesota State earned a hard fought 2-0 win to spoil the home opener for UJ.
The four shots for the Jimmies came from
Vega Canada, Grow,
Julliet Lopez, and Belyk. UJ failed to record a shot on net in the contest. Musser had a solid game with seven saves and two goals allowed. The Mavericks won total shots (17-4), shots on net (9-0), and corner kicks (4-1).
The Jimmies will look to rebound at home against the St. Cloud State Huskies on Sunday, September 20 at noon.
