KENNESAW - The Kennesaw State defenders came close to keeping a top-20 team off the scoreboard.

The University of Minnesota, ranked No. 17 in the nation by NCAA, converted a low percentage shot in the final six minutes of the game to secure a 1-0 victory over the Owls on Sunday on a wet field at the KSU Soccer Complex.

Minnosota forward Katie Bethke scored her unassisted goal from the right sideline. The ball escaped defender Bridie Fox who attempted to clear it and trickled into the left corner of the net out of reach of goalkeeper Staci Pugh.

Prior to the Minnesota goal, the Owls (1-2) stopped 23 Minnesota shot attempts. Pugh came away with 10 saves, some of which looked to be sure goals by the Golden Gophers. The Owl defenders appeared well positioned against Minnesota, and coach Rob King stated after the game that communication has improved since losing their season opener, 6-0, to Georgia on Aug. 21.

"I think any time you play a top 20 national ranked team and hang around - I think they scored in the 84th or 85th minute - you ought to feel good about yourself," King said. "I think we worked hard today. We defended well (Sunday). We didn't create (chances to score) very much, but I knew that was going to be a challenge against this (Minnesota) team. But I was pleased with how our girls worked."

Pugh's performance in goal Sunday kept the Golden Gophers from seizing control of the game. She tipped a head shot by Molly Rouse over the crossbar in the 11th minute of the first half. Another highlight was stopping a one-on-one opportunity by Tamara Strahota 17 minutes later.

Pugh's most memorable play, however, came with 12 minutes left in the game when she stopped two close-range shots fired three seconds apart by Bethke and Katie Shelander.

"Staci had a great game," King said. "She looked confident and held on to a lot of balls in the wet."

Offensively, Kennesaw State had plenty of possession on Minnesota's side of the field throughout the game but struggled to find open looks. The Owls came away with just three shots.

Former Harrison standout Alyssa Mahan, who scored both goals in Kenensaw State's 2-0 win Friday over Francis Marion, took a shot that sailed left with 4 minutes left.

Katie Scott fired a shot three minutes later that was stopped by Minnesota goalkeeper Cat Parkhill. The Owls didn't get a shot off in the second half until Maylee Attin-Johnson rifled an attempt from 30 feet out that sailed right.