ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris Women's Soccer team bested Crown College 1-0 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action Tuesday night in St. Bonifacius, Minn. Junior Malia Totoris delivered the game-winner with her first goal of the season.
 
With the win, Minnesota Morris improves to 3-8-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the UMAC, while Crown drops to 1-8-2 overall and 0-5-1 in conference play.
 
"Fantastic team effort today," said head coach Emma Morris. "So proud of the effort, attacked the game plan and we were unlucky not to have had a couple more goals. Really happy for Malia to get her first goal of the season, and we have to point out Ashlynn Pollreisz who had a really important role and executed it perfectly."
 
The match began with a strong defensive showing from both sides, as neither team registered a shot early on. Keiran Kelly had a promising opportunity after running onto a through ball, but her touch was too heavy to get a shot off. In the 15th minute, Talalupe Levale took the first shot of the game, but the Crown keeper made the save. Levale later sent a cross to Ziviara Cordova at the edge of the 18-yard box, who fired a shot on frame but was denied. In the final 10 minutes of the first half, Cordova had another attempt, but the score remained 0-0 at halftime.
 
The Cougars had a great chance early in the second half when Levale's shot deflected off the keeper. Cordova pounced on the rebound and found the net, but was ruled offside. Minutes later, Levale sent another shot over the crossbar. With under 25 minutes to play, Levale had yet another opportunity, but her shot went just wide.
 
Finally, with about 15 minutes left, Malia Totoris dispossessed a defender, took a few touches, and buried the ball in the back of the net to give Minnesota Morris the 1-0 lead. In the final five minutes, Rylie Lovec recorded her first shot of the match, but couldn't beat the goalkeeper. Levale had one last chance before the final whistle, but her shot struck the post.
 
Totoris' goal marked her first of the season and sealed the win for the Cougars. UMM totaled eight shots on goal, with Cordova leading the team with three. Levale followed with two. The Cougar defense, anchored by Madysen Johnson, Caitlin Lau, Lovec, and Sarah Kumher, held Crown to just two shots, with only one on target. Goalkeeper CJ Frear-Boerner made one save on the lone shot she faced.
The Cougars will look to build on this win when they host Martin Luther College on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.