MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 3 seed Augustana women's soccer team (14-2-4) handed No. 2 seed Bemidji State (15-1-3) their first loss of the season in Mankato, Minn. on Friday afternoon. With the win the Vikings advance to their third consecutive NSIC tournament final.

The Vikings defeated the Beavers 1-0, for their ninth 1-0 win on the season. Unlike against Concordia-St. Paul when Augustana scored its game winning goal with less than two minutes remaining in the match, the Vikings scored the game winning goal against Bemidji State early in the match.

Reiley Klose took a cross from Samantha Tymkowicz 27 seconds into the match a slipped it past NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year Catherine Arneson to give the Vikings the 1-0 advantage and what proved to be the lone goal of the match.

The Vikings outshot the Beavers on the match 19-15 and had nine shots on goal compared to seven by Bemidji State. Rebekah Thoresen led Augustana offensively with four shots, followed by Tymkowicz and Klose with three each.

Taylor Machacek extend her single season shutout record to 13 in the win over the Beavers. Machacek recorded seven saves on the afternoon.

Augustana improves to 7-6 in NSIC tournament matches all-time, picking up all seven wins in the last three seasons. This will be the third straight NSIC finals appearance for the Vikings, having won in Mankato in 2015 and falling in 2016 in Minot, N.D.

The Vikings win over the Beavers, was their first win over a ranked opponent this season (1-2-2) and helps the Vikings regionally. The Beavers were ranked No. 14 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and fourth regionally. Augustana's last win against a ranked opponent came in last season's NSIC semifinals against Minot State in Minot.

Augustana's NSIC finals opponent will be determined later today as No. 1 seed Minnesota State takes on No. 5 seed U-Mary at 2 p.m. in Mankato. The NSIC final will be in Mankato on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.