There is a chance that Winona State University's women's soccer team played its final match of the season Sunday.

In the NSIC Tournament championship game, the Warriors fell flat, dropping a 2-1 decision to Minnesota-Duluth at Maxwell Field.

With an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line, WSU couldn't capitalize on its home-field advantage against a team that it defeated 2-0 earlier in the season.

"It is very disappointing," WSU coach Ali Omar said. "We lost on effort. We had no effort whatsoever today. You don't want to waste a game on your home field like this."

Coming into the match, the Warriors (17-5) were sixth in the NCAA Division II Central Region rankings and UMD was seventh. After Sunday, WSU might be on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament. The top six teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.

"I'm thinking there's a reason for someone on the committee to squeeze us out," Omar said. "The way the rankings have been going all year, we've been hanging on the bottom. This loss gives them a reason to keep us out of the top six."

Maria Leider, the NSIC tournament MVP, put the Bulldogs (16-2-2) up 1-0 with 9:36 remaining in the first half.

In the second half, WSU got on the board and tied the match when Martha Curtiss found Kendal Straessle. It was Straessle's first goal of the season.

With less than 12 minutes remaining, UMD put the match away when Becky Anderson dribbled to the right corner and passed up to Clare Dahmen in front of the net for the go-ahead goal.

"Soccer is a game of mistakes," Omar said. "The team that makes more mistakes is the team that is going to lose. You can't make those mistakes against a team like Duluth."

Hannah Bengston made 11 saves for the Bulldogs while Anna Belpedio made five saves for the Warriors.