RAPID CITY, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team continued to have a lid on the goal as they earned their second-straight clean sheet with a 0-0 draw against Black Hills State University Saturday, August 29. The Golden Eagles open the season with consecutive shutouts, for 180-straight minutes without conceding a goal. Dating back to last season, Minnesota Crookston has three-straight clean sheets and 289-consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. Their last goal allowed came November 2, 2025 against the University of Mary. The tilt was played at Black Hills Surgical Complex in Rapid City, S.D.
Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Payton King (So., GK, Fairfield, Calif.) combined for the clean sheet Saturday against the Yellow Jackets. DeBrusk started and played 45 minutes, allowing no goals with three saves. King played 45 minutes in the second half, with no goals and three saves. DeBrusk has been a part of both clean sheets this season, with 135 minutes of scoreless soccer in net for the sophomore netminder.
The Golden Eagles finished with seven shots, five on frame. Black Hills State tallied 19 shots, with six on goal. Tessa VanOverbeke (Sr., D/MF, Hartford, S.D.) guided the attack from her outside back position, with three shots on goal. Jillian Muehlberger (Jr., F, Shawnee, Kan.) and Andrea Cuenca Medina (Jr., MF, South St. Paul, Minn.) each added a shot on goal. Black Hills State notched four corners, to zero for the U of M Crookston. Each team committed five fouls Saturday. The Yellow Jackets were lifted by two shots on goal apiece from Ivy Agee, Ally Boysen, and Sydney Stephan.
Minnesota Crookston improved dramatically against the Yellow Jackets after falling 4-1 in Crookston September 7, 2025. They are 0-1-2 all-time against Black Hills State. The two squads had a 0-0 tie in Spearfish, S.D. in 2024.Â
The Golden Eagles begin the season with two positive results for the first time in program history. They have never started a season with either two-straight ties, two-straight wins, or a win and a tie.Â
VanOverbeke tested the Black Hills State keeper Rian Barthel with a pair of shots on goal in the first five minutes. The Yellow Jackets had three shots on goal in the first 45, with two from Stephan.
VanOverbeke looked to get the Golden Eagles on the board in the 50th minute, with a shot on frame saved by Barthel. Cuenca Medina had a chance in the 56th minute for Minnesota Crookston, while Muehlberger had the final opportunity of the game in the 78th minute for the Golden Eagles. Black Hills State notched three shots on goal in the final 45, propelled by two chances from Agee.
Minnesota Crookston returns to the friendly confines of the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field for their 2026 home debut Monday, August 31 as they face-off with Minnesota State University Moorhead for the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock. The Golden Eagles went 2-0 against the Dragons last season, holding on to the Rivalry Rock both times.
