Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State freshman defenseman Sheneill Lymer, center, attacks the ball during a corner kick Friday evening against Minnesota State Moorhead at Herb Parker Stadium.

The goalless drought has carried over into the conference season.

The Minot State women’s soccer team has gone four games, or 360 minutes, without scoring a goal to start the season.

Minnesota State Moorhead (3-0-1, 1-0 NSIC) took full advantage Friday evening with a 1-0 victory over the Beavers (0-4, 0-1 NSIC) at Herb Parker Stadium.

“I know we can score, they know we can score,” MSU head coach Chris Clements said. “It’s just hitting the ball right, and doing the right thing at the right time. We still have some breakdowns, but it was a better performance today. A more consistent performance.”

MSU held possession for a majority of the first half, but couldn’t turn that into a goal. The Beavers outshot the Dragons 7-4 in the first half.

“This is the first two halves we have put together,” Clements said. “For us going forward, you have to put forth this game performance ever time and the goals will come.”

MSU senior goalkeeper Erin Rafferty made a handful of point-blank saves to keep Moorhead off the scoreboard at the start of the second half.

But, eventually, the Dragons broke through.

In the 65th minute, Mckenzie Ickert sent in a shot from a tight angle that hit the near post and found the foot of Anna Steadland waiting for the rebound in the middle of the box.

Steadland tapped in her first goal of the season and the only goal of the game.

“We got to get more clinical when clearing set pieces out of the box,” Clements said. “Whether it’s winning the first ball or getting the second ball out.”

Rafferty made five saves otherwise, and the Beavers outshot the Dragons 12-10 in the contest. Only two of MSU’s shots, however, were on target.

Melanie van Walstijn had five shots (one on target), and Kelsey Pena had the other shot saved by MSUM goalkeeper Kayleigh Sedlacek.

“We created a lot of opportunities,” Clements said. “We maybe took the shot when we shouldn’t have. We should have been more patient and worked for a better shot. But, that’s the problem when you are looking to score, sometimes you force things that you shouldn’t have.”

Minot State, looking to find the back of the net and the win column, hosts Northern State in another NSIC contest at noon Sunday afternoon at Herb Parker Stadium.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.