Crookston, Minn.- The Golden Eagle soccer team opened up the home portion of their 2016 schedule with a 2-1 loss, Thursday afternoon, as they were bested by #16 Minot State University.
 
The Golden Eagles played well in the NSIC match and they opened up the game's scoring midway through the first half when sophomore forward Lorna McCall (Chicago, Ill.) won a battle for the ball in front of the Beavers net setting up a booming strike by midfielder Kallie Gau (Sr., Monticello, Minn./Early Childhood & Elementary Education) that went top right. The shot was taken from just outside the box and MSU keeper Erin Rafferty (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) didn't have a chance on Gau's second goal of 2016. Late in the first frame, UMC failed to clear a ball from the front of their net and the Beavers tied things up at 1-1. Ninfa Ramirez (Sr., Perris, Calif.) was able to get a shot off from up close and score her seventh goal of the season.
 
UMC again played well in the second half but MSU was able to take the lead in the 72^nd minute as Chloe Melton (Sr., Fleet, England) banged home a rebound off a Lexie Gauger (Green Bay, Wis./Criminal Justice) save. Gauger made a great save to stop Ramirez on the initial shot but the rebound went directly to Melton who hit the game winner which was her third of the season.
 
The 2-5, 1-3 in the NSIC, Golden Eagles will turn things around and hit the road again on Sunday when they travel to Bismarck, N.D. to take on the University of Mary (0-3-1, 0-2) in another conference match. Opening kick in the NSIC game is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
 
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.
 
The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).