College Football: Winona State keeps Beavers winless

The Minot State football team threw its first two touchdown passes of the season and won the turnover battle, but couldn’t translate that into its first win of the season, suffering a 35-25 defeat at Winona State on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Beavers quarterback Carson Chrisman completed 3 of 6 passes for 70 yards, with two of those completions resulting in touchdowns. He found Jonathan Noriega for a 20-yard hookup for Minot State’s first touchdown of the game with 1:44 remaining in the first half and delivered a 49-yard score to Gage Cavanaugh with 13 minutes to play in regulation to pull the Beavers to within striking distance of the lead.

It was the second consecutive game that Chrisman has eclipsed 70 yards passing in Minot State’s run-centric offense. The run game struggled to establish any momentum, as the Warriors limited Minot State’s running attack to 130 yards on 43 carries. Evan Lovett finished with a team-high 54 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.

Winona State (2-2 overall, 2-1 NSIC) beat the Beavers at their own game, accumulating 217 yards on the ground on 50 carries. Anthony Powell single-handedly outrushed Minot State to the tune of 133 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries.

The Warriors also produced 152 yards through the air. Jackson Flottmeyer completed 15 of 22 passes for three touchdowns, but was picked off twice. WSU committed three turnovers, while MSU did not hand the ball to the Warriors.

The Beavers (0-4, 0-3) never led, but were never out of it. After a scoreless opening quarter, WSU found the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown from Powell. The Warriors would find paydirt three times in the second quarter, including twice in the final 1:44 to build a 21-10 advantage. WSU went up 14-3 after Flottmeyer’s first touchdown toss, but the Beavers responded with a Chrisman touchdown. But the Warriors marched 54 yards in 1:25 and Flottmeyer found Nolan Ginskey for the first of two touchdowns with just 10 seconds remaining in the opening 30 minutes to grab a two-possession lead.

Minot State couldn’t take advantage of Flottmeyer’s first interception of the contest in the first quarter, eventually turning the ball over on downs in WSU territory, but the Beavers did capitalize the second time around to start the second half. On the second play of the third quarter, Cody Raetzman picked off Flottmeyer at the WSU 32 and returned it five yards to the 27. Two plays later, Lovett rushed 21 yards to the end zone to bring MSU to within 21-17.

The score would remain the same until the first minute of the fourth quarter. Ginskey hauled in his second reception touchdown of the afternoon as part of an 8-play, 80-yard drive.

The Beavers would answer right back, scoring 1:17 later. The two-point conversion brought the Beavers within three, but the Warriors pushed it back to double figures with 8:27 to go on Powell’s second rushing touchdown.

MSU would get just one final possession from there, turning the ball over on downs at its own 43. WSU successfully ran out the final 5:38 to keep the Beavers winless on the season.

Minot State returns home to play Bemidji State in the battle of the Beavers on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.

Women’s Soccer: Beavers earn first point in tie to Huskies; routed by Mavericks

The Minot State women’s soccer team started the weekend on a high note and ended it on a sour note.

The Beavers picked up their first point in the Northern Sun standings with a 2-2 draw against St. Cloud State on Friday, Sept. 19. They couldn’t replicate that success the following game, falling 5-0 to Minnesota State on Sunday, Sept. 21. Both games were played at home at Herb Parker Stadium.

On Friday, corner kicks were the name of the game for the Beavers, scoring both of their second-half goals off corners. The first came in the 54th minute to tie the match 1-1. Morgan Ostrowski buried the goal off the set piece, set up by Anna Miotto.

Miotto gave the Beavers (0-4-1 overall, 0-1-1 NSIC) the lead in the 59th minute on their seventh corner kick attempt of the afternoon. Minot State earned eight corner kicks during the match compared to five for SCSU.

MSU couldn’t hold the lead and earn the full three points, however. Linsey Trapino netted the equalizer in the 68th minute off an assist from Izzy Halunen.

Both teams recorded seven shots on net. Jaylee Strickland finished with five saves in net for the Huskies, while Jayen Alger and Rebecca Sargent split time in net for the Beavers. Alger made four saves, while Sargent stopped one shot.

Sunday’s match was not as competitive, as the Mavericks tallied three goals in the first half and coasted from there.

Archer Maddix and Avery Korsching scored in the 13th and 17th minutes, respectively, and Marin Johnson added another in the 31st minute. The second half was more of the same. Meghan Sullivan grew the lead in the 71st minute and Anna Stromberg capped off the offensive onslaught in the 88th minute.

Sullivan finished with a goal and an assist as 10 Mavericks recorded points in the victory.

Minnesota State outshot the Beavers 23-3, with an 11-2 margin in shots on goal. The Mavericks earned seven corner kicks while not yielding any to the Beavers.

Alger finished with five saves. Minnesota State goalkeeper Lauren McAlpine stopped two shots to earn the victory.

The Beavers travel to Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.

College Volleyball: Minot State swept by St. Cloud State, Minnesota State

The Minot State volleyball team’s opening weekend of conference play was a rocky one to say the least, suffering a pair of sweeps at the hands of St. Cloud State and Minnesota State. The Beavers fell to St. Cloud State, 25-12, 25-16, 25-20, on Friday, Sept. 19, and Minnesota State, 25-17, 25-21, 25-12, the following day.

Caton Pearcy and Katelyn Onespot-Danforth each had 15 kills over the course of the two matches to lead the Beavers. Jaina Macaulay dished out 27 combined assists and 16 digs.

Emery Thury had a match-high 10 kills for the Huskies on Friday, and Avery Rosenberg put down 17 kills for the Mavericks on Saturday.

The Beavers come home to play in-state rival U-Mary on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m.

College Cross Country: MSU women 14th, men 18th at Roy Griak Invitational

The Minot State women’s cross country team placed 14th and the men’s team finished in 18th at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, Sept. 19.

The Beaver women competed against a field of 24 teams across the Midwest, accumulating a team score of 414. Bailey Wride was MSU’s top finisher, crossing the finish line in 24 minutes, 29 seconds to take 35th individually. Emery Smith also cracked the top 50, placing 49th in 24:53.

Winona State won the women’s competition with 27 points. Minnesota State (66), Northern Michigan (74), Minnesota Duluth (118) and Dordt (137) rounded out the top five. The Beavers placed ahead of four teams from the Northern Sun.

Winona State had the top three finishers, led by Sophia Taarud, who completed the race in 22:19. Kylie Anderson (22:54) and Ella Colt (23:11) finished second and third, respectively, for the Warriors.

On the men’s side, the Beavers finished with a team score of 525 in the 21-team field.. MSU was led by Jake Jenkins, who finished the race in 28:35 to place 92nd.

Michigan Tech won the team competition with a score of 35. Minnesota State placed second with 100 points. Dordt (121), South Dakota Mines (145) and MSU Moorhead (146) rounded out the top five.

Drew Kolodge, a member of Crown Running, won the individual competition in 25:22. Michael Dennis of Michigan Tech was second in 26:39. Minnesota State’s Luis Pfister was the top runner for the Northern Sun, finishing third in 26:39.

Girls Swimming & Diving: Majettes runner-up at Minot Invite

The Minot High girls swimming & diving team won four events and finished second with a team score of 425 at the six-team Minot Invite on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Bismarck Century won the meet with 445 points. Mandan (308), Williston (272), Grand Forks (271) and Minot North (197) also took part in the competition.

Samantha VonBokern won a pair of events for the Majettes. She took the 200-yard freestyle event in 1 minute, 58.29 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 53.49. Kirby Quam claimed the 500 freestyle in 5:43.31 and Gracyn Bergan won the 1-meter diving with a score of 431.35.

The Patriots won six events, sweeping the three relays. Joelle Knudson (2:21.54) won the 200 individual medley, Sienna Mrachek (1:04.64) claimed the 100 backstroke and Brooklyn Richards (1:11.44) took home the 100 breaststroke.

The Majettes went 1-2 in the 200 freestyle and the Patriots did the same in the backstroke, the only teams to accomplish that feat at the competition. Minot High finished second behind Century in all three relay events.

Williston won the two remaining events. Dru Zander won both the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.

Abigail Wake (50 freestyle), Chloe Kraft (100 freestyle) and Danica Stolba (1-meter diving) finished sixth, respectively, for Minot North.

The Majettes compete in the BPS Duals against Bismarck Century and Bismarck Legacy on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 5:30 p.m.

Boys Tennis: Sentinels drop conference match to Mandan

Mandan won five of six singles matches and two of three doubles matches to remain undefeated in conference play, posting a 7-2 victory over Minot North on Friday, Sept. 19.

The Braves (12-1 overall, 3-0 West Region), were playing without two of its top six players, but it didn’t matter as they posted victories at the top three singles as well as at No. 4 and No. 5. Mandan also claimed victory in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

The Sentinels (4-8, 1-4) picked up victories at No. 4 singles, with Lucas Griffith beating Ben Sayler, 6-3, 6-3, and at No. 3 doubles with a 6-4, 6-3 win by teammates Brayden Callahan and Reece Blikre.

All but one match was decided in two sets. Only DeKlan Wollschager’s victory for Mandan at No. 2 singles required a third set. He bested Callahan 0-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Minot North travels to Williston on Tuesday, Sept. 23, for a match beginning at 4 p.m

Prep Cross Country: Rugby teams post top-10 finishes at Valley City Invite

The Rugby girls cross country team placed sixth and the boys ninth at the Valley City Blue and White Invitational at Bjornson Park Public Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The girls team were the top Class B finishers with a team score of 172 points. Hannah Senechal, who is ranked No. 9 in the coaches poll, finished ninth individually for the Panthers, completing the race in 20 minutes, 3 seconds. Allie Monroe (20:56) and Evyn Jacobson (21:15) also finished in the top 30, placing 26th and 30th respectively.

Williston’s Harley Jeannotte won the race in a time of 18:50.

The Coyotes also won the team competition with a score of 49. West Fargo Sheyenne (96), Bismarck High (99), Grand Forks (107) and West Fargo Horace (140) rounded out the top five. Central Cass was the second-best finisher amongst Class B schools, placing ninth with 300 points. Twenty-five teams competed in the girls’ side.

The Rugby boys also had the best showing of the Class B schools with 277 points in the 28-team field. Ellendale was 10th at 344. Bismarck High won the boys competition with 68 points, followed by West Fargo Sheyenne (96), Fargo Shanley (133), Grand Forks Central (145) and Fargo North 204.

Owen Johnson of Northern Cass won the race in 16:21.