Soccer’s stellar season continues

The Huskies soccer team had yet another stellar weekend going undefeated for the second weekend in a row.

Last weekend the Huskies beat Southwest Minnesota (2-1) and Minnesota State (1-0 OT). This past weekend the Huskies triumphed over MSU Moorhead (3-0) and Minnesota Crookston (5-0).

The Huskies improve their record to 5-0-1 NSIC, 6-2-3 overall making them in the No. 1 spot in the NSIC. Minnesota Duluth is in the second spot with a 5-1-0 NSIC record.

“Defense has been solid,” said head coach Rebecca Heiberger.

“We have had three shutouts in a row. Even though we look perfect, there is always something to improve on. We have to consistently play at a high-level.”

In the game against MSU, the Huskies defense did not give up a single shot until the 41:23 mark. Sophomore Alexandra Pafko scored two goals against Moorhead.

Her first goal came at the 28:14 mark. Her second goal came with just 3:02 played into the second half for a 2-0 lead.

Junior Lindsey Sather scored the final goal with an assist from Laura Moline with 22 minutes remaining in the game.

Senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Kelly started all 11 games this season making three saves in the game against Moorhead.

In the game against Crookston, Pafko does it again scoring two goals with Sarah Clapp also connecting on two scores. Lindsey Sather had the other goal.

“Alex Pafko is one of the best players out there,” Heiberger said.

“When other teams look at us, their scouting report first says that they have to shut down Pafko. It also says that we are deep enough to pick up slack.”

Pafko scored the first goal at the 32:33 mark. Chelsey Scheller connected with the assist.
Ten minutes later freshman Elyse De Stefano hooked up with Lindsey Sather for her fourth goal of the season.

Another 40 seconds later, the Huskies Pafko scored again for her second straight multi-goal game and her team-leading 18th point going into the half at 3-0.

Clapp scored the fourth goal of the game right out of halftime at the 48:30 mark. Gabrielle Najera and Pafko assisted Clapp on the goal.

Clapp scored on the 63:12 mark to put the last touch on the 5-0 game.

Kelly made her 11th start for the Huskies in the net making three saves earning her sixth win of the season.

Huskies offensively dominated the game out shooting the Golden Eagles 14 to five.

“We have to just take it game by game,” Heiberger said.

“With a long road trip ahead we are facing some very quality opponents. We just have to play at the highest-level of consistency and we will do just fine.”

St. Cloud State will be traveling for the next four games of the season with their first stop at Bemidji State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10.