MANKATO, Minn. --- For the second time in a week, Minnesota State used a strong second half performance to defeat Upper Iowa at home as the top-seeded Mavericks scored four second-half goals en route to a 4-1 NSIC/U.S. Bank semi-final victory over the fourth-seeded Peacocks at The Pitch Friday afternoon.
 
The victory matches MSU's single-season record for wins in a season as the Mavericks now stand 17-2-1 on the year and advance to their third NSIC/U.S. Bank championship match in their six years in the league. The Purple and Gold are 2-0 all-time in conference title matches. Upper Iowa falls to 15-5-0 and will have its fate decided Monday at 6:30 p.m. when the NCAA Division II tournament field is announced.
 
Minnesota State also extends its home unbeaten streak to 35 matches, the 13th-longest streak in NCAA Division II history.
 
After 45 minutes, MSU owned a 9-4 advantage in shots, but it was the Peacocks whom netted the contest's first goal. Freshman Brianne Fenton fed fellow freshman Mackenzie Taldone in the box before she lifted a ball into the upper right-hand corner in the 39th minute giving UIU a 1-0 lead.
 
Minnesota State responded in the second half with an offensive explosion outshooting Upper Iowa 26-2 in the stanza en route to producing four goals. Senior Courtney Vallarelli (Eagan, Minn.) had a career day factoring on the first three Maverick goals of the period including scoring a pair of her own.
 
In the 51st minute, Vallarelli worked a perfect give-and-go with sophomore Korey Kronforst (Cary, Ill.) then beat sophomore Kaitlyn Emanuel on the left side knotting the match at one a piece. MSU claimed the lead in the 65th minute when Vallarelli played a crossing pass that junior Emily Moris (Woodbury, Minn.) headed into the right side for her fifth goal of the season. Less than five minutes later, MSU had a bevy of shots turned away by Emanuel or blocked by UIU defenders, but the persistence paid off when freshman Dana Savino (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) connected with Vallarelli who touched in her second goal of the match and sixth of the season. Vallarelli's two goals and five points on the day are both career-bests for the senior, while Savino's assist marked her first career point.
 
The Mavericks completed the scoring barrage in the 74th minute as junior Jess Bowe (Anoka, Minn.) joined the act by heading her fourth goal of the year in after a crossing pass in the box from Kronforst.
 
For the match, Minnesota State outshot UIU 35-6, including a 14-2 advantage in shots on goal. MSU also possessed a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.
 
Emanuel's 10 saves were a match-high, while junior Molly McGough (Centennial, Colo.) recorded one save in the win.
 
MSU vies for its third NSIC/U.S. Bank tournament championship Sunday at 1 p.m. out at The Pitch when it faces third-seeded Minnesota Duluth, who MSU knocked off 1-0 at home back on Oct. 20.