CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's soccer team put up one of their best performances of the year, but a goal in the 77^th minute by Nicole Friis sent St. Cloud State University to the 3-2 victory.

The Golden Eagles came back from a 2-0 deficit to knot the game up 2-2 with back-to-back goals in a three minute stretch. UMN Crookston was strong defensively in the first half, as Emma Stempien (Fr., GK, Plymouth, Mich.) put up a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes with nine saves.

Minnesota Crookston finished the game with nine shots, five of them on goal. Abby Fettinger (Fr., MF/F, White Bear Lake, Minn.) paced the squad with one goal and one assist. Fettinger had four shots, with three shots on goal. Morgan Laplante (Jr., F, De Soto, Kan.) added her team-leading third goal for UMN Crookston.

Stempien finished with 16 saves and three goals allowed in 90 minutes in net.

The Huskies notched 33 shots, with 19 shots on goal. Claire Shea led St. Cloud State with eight shots, five of them on goal. Shea, Ari Del Moral, and Nicole Friis accounted for the St. Cloud State's goals.

In goal, Evie Kohn allowed two goals, with three saves.

The two goals Tuesday, November 2 for UMN Crookston are the most for the squad since a 3-2 victory over Minot State University Nov. 5, 2019.

After a scoreless first period, St. Cloud State got on the scoreboard quickly in the second period when Del Moral scored in the 47^th minute to make it 1-0.

In the 59^th minute, Shea scored after stealing a UMN Crookston pass in the back after putting it in the back of the net to make it 2-0.

The Golden Eagles responded with increased intensity. In the 62^nd minute, Fettinger put a great try on goal from distance. The shot bounced off the crossbar and landed right in Laplante's bread basket as she put away for the tally to trim the deficit to 2-1. Laplante leads Minnesota Crookston with three goals this season.

Less than three minutes later, Fettinger struck again as she scored on a penalty shot for her second goal of the season to knot the game up 2-2.

The two sides played even soccer until a Friis goal off an Emali Ortega Talamentes assist proved to be the deciding tally in the 3-2 win.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-16-0 (1-13-0 NSIC) with Tuesday's loss. St. Cloud State improved to 6-7-3 (6-5-3 NSIC) with the victory.

UMN Crookston concludes the 2021 season Friday, November 5 with a 2 p.m. meeting with sixth-ranked Bemidji State University at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn.