CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team fell 1-0 to Minnesota State University Moorhead in a closely-contested rivalry game Monday, August 31 as the Dragons claimed the Highway 75 Rivalry Rock after two-straight wins in 2025 by the Golden Eagles.
An 11th minute goal off a shot from distance from Mary Cox that went off the cross bar and found Erika Bergh before Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) could grasp it for the save. Bergh scored the goal, officially off the helper from Cox.
Minnesota Crookston fell to 0-1-2 with the loss, in a non-conference game against the Dragons. MSU Moorhead opens the season with a 1-0-0 mark. The Dragons take the edge in the Rivalry Rock games since 2013 7-6-2. The win is the first for MSU Moorhead in the series since a 2-0 win October 8, 2023 in Crookston.
MSU Moorhead controlled the first half guided by the Bergh goal. Each team officially had three shots in the opening stanza. Minnesota Crookston responded by controlling the offensive end of play in the second half, outshooting the Dragons 9-2 in the second period. The Golden Eagles outshot the Dragons 12-5, but were unable to find the equalizer despite outstanding chances in the final 45 minutes.
Minnesota Crookston was lifted by two shots on goal apiece from Jillian Muehlberger (Jr., F, Shawnee, Kan.) and Marasia Warren (Fr., F, Vermillion, S.D.), as the pair of newcomers both made their impact on the pitch. Tessa VanOverbeke (Sr., D/MF, Hartford, S.D.), Emmah Burnes (Sr., MF, Tulare, Calif.), and Callie Holthaus (Jr., MF/F, Richmond, Minn.) each tallied one shot on goal.
MSU Moorhead was lifted by one shot on goal apiece by Erika Bergh, Ellie Lommel, and Clara Butler.
The first shot on goal was the only goal on the game off Cox's opportunity that was put away by Bergh in the 11th minute to give MSU Moorhead a 1-0 advantage.
The only other shot on goal from either side in the first stanza came from Warren in the 41st minute, but was put away by Kristensen.
The Dragons had the first chance out of the gate in the second half with a shot on goal from Lommel. However, Minnesota Crookston put on the pressure from there. Muehlberger put together back-to-back runs that helped create space off great passes from the back of the Golden Eagle formation. Unfortunately, both of her chances were staved off by Kristensen.
Minnesota Crookston continued to pressure the Dragon defense. Burnes' opportunity in the 56th minute was put away by Kristensen. The Golden Eagles had a tremendous one-on-one chance in the 66th minute off a run by Warren, but Kristensen was able to fend off the shot from Warren to keep the tally 1-0 in favor of the Dragons.
The Golden Eagles put together a few chances, but none on frame, and had a free kick late from dangerous distance for Riley Edemann (So., D, Santa Clarita, Calif.) but Minnesota Crookston was unable to put away the equalizer as they fell 1-0.
The loss snaps a nearly 300-minute scoreless streak for the Golden Eagles dating back to a UMary goal November 2, 2025. Minnesota Crookston had not lost since a 2-0 loss at Minot State University October 31.
The Golden Eagles will not play a regular-season game until Friday, September 11 at Augustana University.
