Crookston, Minn.—The Minnesota Crookston women's soccer team wrapped up homecoming weekend on campus with a match against the University of Sioux Falls Sunday afternoon at the UMC Soccer Field.
 
The Cougars would score early on in the match, and that's all they would need, as they would leave Crookston with a 1-0 victory over the Golden Eagles.
 
The game wouldn't take very long to see any scoring, as McKayla Philippi got the Cougars on the board during the games second minute. The Cougars applied pressure, and found Chessa Novotny in the box, and Novotny shot the ball off the left post, and ricochet right to Phillipi, and she put the ball in the back of the net for an easy goal, and a 1-0 lead.
 
The rest of the half wouldn't see very many scoring chances, as both teams were very solid defensively. The half would end with a 1-0 Cougar lead.
 
After the halftime break, it would be the same story, as neither team could get very many chances to score a goal.
 
The Golden Eagles would apply tons of pressure in the last 15 minutes of the match, and the Cougars would have to rely on goalkeeper Brayden Paul to hold on to the lead. Minnesota Crookston's best chance came late in the match when Maggee Hodgdon got the ball just outside the box, but shot it just over the crossbar.
 
The Cougars would hang on after that furious Golden Eagle rally.
 
Athena DiMario Done (So. Windsor, Ontario) was outstanding in goal for her Golden Eagles. She made nine saves on the day, including five in the first half.
 
On the other end of the field, Brayden Paul was outstanding as well, including the last 20 minutes of the match. Paul would make five saves on the day, including two in the last minute.
 
Maggee Hodgdon (Fr. Newberg, Ore.) would lead the Golden Eagles in shots with four off the bench. Lindsey Daml (Jr. North Pole, Alaska), and Shonali Pierce (Streamwood, Ill.) each had two shots apiece.
 
Mckayla Philippi of Sioux Falls would capitalize on her only shot of the day, with the only goal of the day. Taylor Kelley, and Lindsey Power led the Cougars with three shots each. Chessa Novotny had two shots and an assist on the Philippi goal.
 
The loss drops Minnesota Crookston to 1-8-1 overall, and 1-5-1 in the NSIC. The Cougars improve to 4-6 overall, and 3-4 in the NSIC.
 
Minnesota Crookston will head west for NSIC play. The Golden Eagles will head out to Bismarck, N.D. to battle the University of Mary on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. They will than head north to take on Minot State next Sunday afternoon. That match is set for 1 p.m.