(Crookston, Minn.)- Minnesota State University, Mankato opened up a 3-0 halftime lead and added five goals in the second half as the Mavericks defeated the University of Minnesota, Crookston 8-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Women's Soccer action today in Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota State University, Mankato had three players score two goals each. Brittany Henry, Kate Nielsen and Kristin Coughlin each found the back of the net twice. Henry scored the first two goals of the game while Coughlin also added two assists.

U of M, Crookston's Athena Mussenden (Sr, Fwd, Kenosha, Wis.) scored her first career goal for the Golden Eagles at 77:32 off a header.

Minnesota State University, Mankato improves to 13-3-1 and 9-3-1 in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles close out the 2009 season with an overall record of 2-15-2 overall and 0-12-1 in the NSIC.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston wishes the best to seniors Megan Hannon (Sr, Mid, Green Bay, Wis.), Justine Jones (Sr, Fwd, Richland, Wash.) and Athena Mussenden (Sr, Fwd, Kenosha, Wis.) and thanks them for their contributions to Golden Eagle Women's Soccer.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at http://www.goldeneaglesports.com/.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

-30-

Photo Caption: Athena Mussenden