Photo by Sam Thiel SMSU’s Allie Cook fights for possession during their game against Bemidji State University on Sunday. The Mustangs fell to BSU 3-1.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State women’s soccer team had its four-game winning streak come to a close with a 3-1 loss to Bemidji State in a battle of two of the top three teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings on Sunday afternoon at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

BSU remains in first place in the league standings with today’s victory and improves to 6-2-1 overall and 5-0-1 in the NSIC. SMSU, which began the day in third place, drops to 6-2 overall, 4-2 NSIC.

“We’re at the point where we expect to win every game so we’re certainly disappointed when we don’t,” SMSU coach Erin Kasmarik-Mallett said. “I like the progress that we’re making, I think we just didn’t quite have the quality when it mattered, especially in the second half to really be able to put the game away.”

BSU – NCAA Tournament participants the past two seasons – snapped a 1-1 game at halftime with goals in the 49th and 83rd minute to earn its fifth straight victory over SMSU.

The Beavers opened the game’s scoring in the 13th minute as Sara Wendt scored her team-leading fifth of the season.

The Mustangs answered just six minutes later as Alex Lotts scored an unassisted goal to tie the game at 1-1. Lotts is now SMSU’s leading goal scorer this season with four and also leads the squad with 12 points.

The two teams played an even first 45 minutes with BSU recording four shots while SMSU finished with two shots.

In the second half with the wind to their backs, the Beavers registered 12 shots with six on goal to earn the victory. Alanna Mattson snapped the tie with the goal in the 49th minute off a pass from Melanie Peltier. BSU sealed the victory with a Megan Majewski goal off an assist from Peltier to push the lead to 3-1.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Friday, facing nationally-ranked Minnesota State with a 3 p.m. start in Mankato.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications