WAYNE, Neb. – Minnesota State Moorhead soccer scored its first victory of the 2026 NSIC season on Friday afternoon. The Dragons used tough defense and a dazzling goal from
Sophie Thompson to defeat Wayne State, 1-0.
"It's the first time in my coaching career visiting Wayne and I'm proud that the team gets to bring home the W," said MSUM head soccer coach
Scott Forster. "Every NSIC game is a fight, but we matched the competition and delivered on ball quality."
The teams would use the first 10 minutes to feel each other out before the Wildcats secured the game's first shot on goal.
Emilia Bukholt Kristensen made one of her five first-half saves to keep the contest scoreless early. Kristensen would stall another attempt ahead of the 16
th minute before Moorhead had its first real opportunity.
Freshman
Ellie Lommel placed a shot on net in the 17
th minute, requiring a save from Wildcat keeper Alexa Hofstetter.
Mary Cox would have the match's next true attempt with a strike ahead of the 27-minute mark. Hofstetter would save the shot, but MSUM would not be held scoreless for much longer.
Just after the half hour mark,
Lilly Allen would play a short pass to teammate
Sophie Thompson. The junior would see a lane for a shot attempt, firing a ball to the top right corner of the net. Thompson's mark was near perfection, bending over the outstretched arms of Hofstetter for her first goal of 2026.
Cox would have another chance ahead of the half, but Hofstetter would step in for her third save of the period. Moorhead would carry a one-goal lead into the locker room, logging four shots on goal in five total attempts. Both offenses would cool off to open the second half of play. Neither team would attempt a shot for nearly 30 minutes before freshman
Maggie Osgood tallied a shot on goal that was saved.
Ultimately, Wayne State's best chance came in the 86
th minute on a free kick just right of the box. However, Moorhead's defense would stave off the late attempt to preserve the 1-0 lead. That score would hold firm after 90 minutes with Thompson's extraordinary shot being the difference maker. The victory for Moorhead is the first over the Wildcats since October 18, 2019.
The Dragon defensive line was particularly stingy in the second half, only allowing five total shot attempts. Compare that to Wayne State's nine shots in the first 45 minutes. Kristensen finished with her second clean sheet of the season and six saves.
Up Next
MSUM (2-1-1, 1-0 NSIC) travels north for an NSIC meeting with Augustana on Sunday at 1 p.m.
