CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer team held a clean sheet for nearly 80 minutes but Abby Flanagan's rocket near the top of the box in the 79th minute sent the University of Sioux Falls to a 1-0 win Sunday, September 20 in Crookston.
The Golden Eagles continue to play sound defensively, and held both teams this weekend to just one goal in 180 minutes. Minnesota Crookston's defense is allowing just 0.86 goals per game in six games. Phoenix DeBrusk (So., GK, Thunder Bay, Ontario) started and put together a clean 45 minutes with two saves. Payton King (So., GK, Fairfield, Calif.) played the second 45 and allowed one goal with two saves.
Minnesota Crookston dropped to 0-4-3 (0-3-1 NSIC) with Sunday's loss. Sioux Falls picked up their first NSIC win, improving to 3-3-2 (1-1-2 NSIC). The Cougars have won two-straight tilts in the contest.
The Golden Eagles finished with four shots, three on frame. Sioux Falls notched six shots, five on frame. Both sides have been known for their defense. USF earned their fourth shutout of the season Sunday. Autumn Rabe (Sr., MF/F, Kewaskum, Wis.), Emmah Burnes (Sr., MF, Tulare, Calif.), and Elise Lefers (Jr., MF/F, Brookings, S.D.) accounted for Minnesota Crookston's shots on goal.
USF was led by Flanagan with three shots on goal, and the game-winning goal. Martina Krattley, and Addison Van Zee added shots on goal.
Delani Daubman earned the clean sheet with three saves for the Cougars.
Sioux Falls set a lot of the tone with chances in the first 45, as they outshot Minnesota Crookston 3-0 in the opening period.
The Golden Eagles picked up the pace out of the gate at halftime, as they were able to generate three-straight chances with a strong chase from Tessa VanOverbeke (Sr., D/MF, Hartford, S.D.) that was struck with pace and went wide, and shots on goal from Rabe, and Lefers.
Flanagan had a pair of saves stopped by King, but then broke through with a laser past King in the 79th minute to put Sioux Falls ahead 1-0.
Minnesota Crookston had one last chance from Burnes in the final minute, stopped by Daubman.
The Golden Eagles hit the road Friday, September 25 to take on Northern State University at 6 p.m., in Aberdeen, S.D.
