Next Game:
Southwest Minnesota State
9/27/2026 | 1:00 p.m. CT
Sep. 27 (Sun) / 1:00 p.m. CT
Southwest Minnesota State
MANKATO, Minn. — No. 8 Minnesota State (7-0-1, 4-0-1 NSIC) defeated Sioux Falls (3-3-2, 1-2-2) 5-0 on Friday at The Pitch, setting a season high in goals. Amara Smith recorded a hat trick as the Mavericks extended the shutout streak to seven games.
“We’ve played such a tough schedule so far, it’s made scoring goals really challenging. It was great to be able to find the back of the net multiple times in a game and hopefully be able to build goal scoring confidence moving forward,” said Head Coach Brian Bahl.
“Not only did we score five but there were some beautiful goals. The way Maddix elevated fearlessly in the box to be on the end of a great service was a big time goal! Ruthie’s goal on the corner was executed perfectly and Amara’s 1v1 in the second half to earn the hat trick was great to see. We played together as a group today, moved the ball really well, found open spaces to attack and played with a level of toughness, defensive aggression and composure that we’re going to need more of moving forward.”
Smith’s hat trick was the first of her career and the first by a Maverick since Addison Clarey scored three goals against MSU Moorhead on October 25, 2024. Savanna Stockness finished with two assists for MSU, setting a season high. Lauren McAlpine played all 90 minutes in goal, made three saves and recorded another shutout. McAlpine has now recorded 7 straight shutouts, which ties her for the most in the country. She has not allowed a goal in 671 minutes of action.
MSU built a 3-0 halftime lead by scoring three times in the first 20 minutes of the first half. Smith put MSU in front at in the 11th minute off an assist from Elan Litt. A Maddix Archer header off a beautiful Mila Rustin pass at 16:24 gave the Mavericks a quick 2-0 lead, Stockness also assisted on the Archer goal. Smith scored again on a penalty kick at 19:57 to extend the advantage to 3-0. The Mavericks and Cougars would trade control and chances with both teams taking multiple corner kicks, but the lead stayed at 3-0 heading into halftime.
MSU added two second-half goals and closed out a 5-0 win, with Smith scoring in the 57th minute and Ruthie Gyasi adding another in the 82nd. It was Gyasi’s first goal of the season. Earlier in the half, McAlpine saved a Sioux Falls shot in the 48th minute before Reese Hilsenbeck put a shot wide for MSU shortly after. Smith made it 4-0 at 56:38 off an assist from Stockness, and MSU followed with more pressure, including two more Hilsenbeck shots and a Marin Johnson attempt saved in the 69th minute. Sioux Falls generated five shots from the 66th minute to 76th, but MSU did not concede, with McAlpine making another save during that stretch. Teagan Jurek shot on frame but was stopped, then Gyasi’s goal from Brenna Hudson gave the Mavericks another goal. They carried the 5-0 score to full time to secure the win.
Up next, the MSU soccer team hosts Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. at The Pitch in Mankato, Minn.