SPEARFISH, S.D. – Monica Yoder and Dani Nelson scored second-half goals Sunday to lift the MSU Denver women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory at Black Hills State.
 
"That's a tough place to play, and that team is playing with a lot of confidence with a new coach," MSU Denver coach Kat Mertz said. "We were able to score some goals and it was nice to get a clean sheet – and score more than one goal."
 
Yoder, a true freshman, scored her second goal of the season at 54:12 after Brooklyn Gold sent a corner kick into the box. The ball came down to Yoder's feet, and she put it away.
 
"Monica has been playing well lately and she played a really complete game," Mertz said. "I was happy she was able to get the goal. She's been one of our most consistent players and she's shown she has a good nose around the goal."
 
Nelson, a senior defender, scored her first career goal, shooting from the top right corner of the box to the upper left corner of the goal after a contested ball in front kicked out to her.
 
"Their goalkeeper is good and made some big saves in the second half," Mertz said. "That was a nice shot by Dani off one touch and it caught her off guard."
 
Kylie Bach had three saves for her 13th career shutout.
 
"In the first four minutes Kylie had to make a big-time save," Mertz said. "There was a breakdown in the back and they got through 1 vs 1. If she doesn't make that save, it could have changed the whole dynamic of the game. She wasn't challenged much after that but her voice, her leadership and her feet were all on point."
 
MSU Denver improved to 2-3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
"The second half was a better half for us," Mertz said. "Sunday soccer is hard. It's not pretty, it's gritty. In the first half were a little sluggish, but we adjusted to the field and in the second half we were on the front foot and were the more aggressive team."