Photo by Jake McNeill Alex Lotts (24) uses her momentum to step into a shot in the first half of the Mustangs’ 3-2 win over Sioux Falls in their 2022 season finale at home Thursday night.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team hosted Sioux Falls for their season finale Thursday night, which they won 3-2 on a pair of goals from Abbey Hoisington.

Kirsten Wetterstrom scored the game-winner with 16 minutes remaining in the game. Sioux Falls had scored a quick pair of unanswered goals in a span of fewer than three minutes to tie the game after the Mustangs came out to a 2-0 lead. Yet, Wetterstrom didn’t let the Cougars continue to build momentum. She bodied her way past a defender before finding space to get off a shot just under 20 yards away from the left side of the net. Her hard-hit shot found the top-right corner to give the Mustangs the win.

Following a foul outside of the box with 24 minutes remaining in the first half, the Mustangs were awarded a free-kick. Emily Maciel stepped up to take the kick.

Maciel’s shot was batted away, but the Cougars were called for a handball, giving SMSU another opportunity on the penalty kick.

Hoisington sent the kick low into the left side of the net, to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.

Hoisington had scored four or more goals in each of the past three seasons but had not found the back of the net this season prior to Thursday night.

Sioux Falls dominated possession early, largely due to poor passing from SMSU, but the Mustangs found their groove as the first half progressed and were able to find themselves in the attacking third more often.

Hoisington scored her second goal of the night two minutes into the second half on a heads-up play. Erin Wetterstrom fired off a shot from about 30 yards out that was aimed just slightly under the crossbar. The USF goalie was able to leap up and get a hand on the shot to knock it away but fell on her back after making the save. Hoisington was able to quickly recover the deflection from the left side of the net and shoot it off the bounce past the goalie to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.

Julianne Arballo was the goalkeeper on the day for SMSU. She finished the game with four saves. The mark was her second-highest total of the season behind a five-save performance in the Mustangs’ 1-0 loss to U Mary in September

Southwest Minnesota State (3-8-7, 3-8-4 NSIC) sits in 11th place in the NSIC standings following their final regular season game. They will not move onto the conference tournament and will head into the off-season and look to prepare for next year.