Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Winona State University Warriors came into Sunday’s game needing at least a tie to clinch at least a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season title.  The Northern State University Wolves nearly came up with the thwart, taking a 1-0 lead in the first half, before watching the Warriors erase the advantage less than two minutes later and claiming the go-ahead goal with just over 15 minutes remaining in regulation to take the 2-1 victory.

With the win, their eighth straight and third straight 1-goal decision, the Warriors improved to 15-4-0 on the year and 12-1-0 in NSIC play.  The Wolves, who honored six seniors prior to the game, slipped to 7-7-6 overall and 5-4-4 in league action.  NSU, which clinched an NSIC tournament berth after Saturday’s double-overtime draw, now awaits the final tournament pairings to be released late Sunday.

The Wolves took the early lead in the 15th minute when senior defenders Laura Skog and Aleasha DeVaney teamed up for a score.  Skog sent a free kick sailing into the box where it deflected off WSU goalkeeper Anna Belpedio toward DeVaney, who body-checked the ball into the net.

The Warriors, however, wasted little time in forging the tie off a corner kick in the 17th minute.  Following several deflections, WSU’s Melissa Sellier picked up the ball and passed it back for senior midfielder Bryna Peplinski, who was able to find the net from just outside the box.

The teams then settled in for a back-and-forth battle for the remainder of the first half and much of the second before Sellier struck gold with the clock nearing the 15-minute mark.  Martha Curtiss sent a through ball up the middle for Sellier, who split the NSU defense before shooting the ball into the right side of the net for the go-ahead score.

That goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Warriors shut down the NSU offense for the remainder of the game.  The Wolves did manage three late shots, none of which were on frame.

The first round of the NSIC tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5.  The top four seeds will have home field advantage for that first round, while the top remaining seed after Wednesday’s matches will host the semifinal and championship rounds.