MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's soccer team defeated North Central University, 5-1, in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) match Saturday afternoon in Morris, Minn. The Cougars scored a season-high five goals in the victory.
 
The win improves the Cougars to 2-8-2 overall and 1-3-1 in the UMAC, while the Rams fall to 1-7-1 overall and 0-4-1 in conference play.
 
"Nice to see some new players added to the scoreboard for the season so far and to get a few balls in the back of the net," said head coach Emma Morris. "Now we just need to keep the momentum going with a big game coming up on Tuesday."
 
It didn't take long for the Cougars to get on the board, as Rourke Nebel scored her first collegiate goal in the fifth minute. Minnesota Morris dominated the first half, totaling 11 shots on target. North Central mounted a late counterattack, but CJ Frear-Boerner made the save. With under two minutes remaining in the half, Bella Toth scored her first goal of the season to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead at the break.
 
North Central registered an early shot in the second half, but the Cougars responded with continued pressure. Hope Berscheit had UMM's first shot on goal of the half, but it was turned away. After 12 minutes, the Cougars were awarded a penalty kick, and Talalupe Levale calmly converted it for her first goal in Maroon and Gold.
 
The Rams answered back with a goal of their own, as Paula Caplili broke through the Cougar defense and found the back of the net. Minnesota Morris responded quickly, scoring twice in a span of two minutes with goals from Brianna Ganske and Nebel, extending the lead to 5-1.
 
Frear-Boerner later saw time as a field player and recorded a shot that went over the bar. UMM held firm for the remainder of the match to secure its first conference win of the season.
 
The Cougars recorded a season-high 24 shots on goal and five goals. Nebel led the way with a brace (two goals), while Ganske, Toth, and Levale also got on the scoresheet. Ashleynn Pollreisz contributed two assists, and Toth added one. Pollreisz and Levale led the team with four shots on goal each, followed by Ganske and Ziviara Cordova with three apiece. In goal, Frear-Boerner made three saves, and Olivia Drath added one save in 15 minutes of action.
 
Minnesota Morris travels to Crown College for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Tuesday in St. Bonifacius, Minn.