With the Homecoming game just a few days away, it is easy to forget some of the other sporting events that are happening on campus this week. Volleyball and soccer each have games that are at home and need your fan support as well.
Thursday night, the soccer team open their conference play against South Dakota at Dacotah Field. North Dakota State is coming off two back-to-back wins against Utah Valley and Jamestown.
Both teams sit at 2-8 to start the season. Both teams have struggled to put the ball in the net, with the Bison scoring just five and the Coyotes four. While USD has struggled defensively, conceding 19 goals in 10 games, the numbers are even worse for the Bison. NDSU has given up a league worst 24 goals, tied with Oral Roberts.
That defense will be tested again away from Fargo on Sunday with a trip to Denver.
The University of Denver Mountaineers sit at the top of the non-conference standings with a 4-6-1 record, totaling 13 points. Denver has scored a total of 16 goals, but have allowed 23, second most behind NDSU and ORU.
After going 10-8-1 overall and 5-2-1 in conference play last year, as well as winning the regular season conference title, the Bison look to get things back on track and make a run back at the title with hopes to win the tournament title.
The non-conference schedule was not kind to the Bison, but a return of form and confidence is timely.
At Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse, volleyball returns with a pair of matches. First, Friday night against Denver, then Sunday afternoon against Oral Roberts.
The Bison opened conference play last weekend with two away games, one at South Dakota and the other South Dakota State. NDSU was successful in both these games to start conference play 2-0. The Bison dropped just one set between the two games.
The two wins bring their overall record to 11-3 and extends their winning streak to seven matches. NDSU has lost just once in the last 10.
The Mountaineers are 1-0 to start the conference season, as they defeated Fort Wayne 3-2.
The win brings Denver’s overall record to 10-3, winning seven of their last 10 matches. The Mountaineers have a 31-15-point differential this season.
Oral Roberts is also 2-0 in the conference as they defeated Fort Wayne and Western Illinois both in a 3-1 victory.
The two wins bring the Golden Eagles to a 5-9 overall record, with all five wins coming in the last 10 matches.
After going 14-18 overall and 11-5 in conference play, the Bison would finish third in the standings and defeat Indian University-Purdue University Indianapolis 3-1 in the first round of the conference tournament before being knocked out by South Dakota in the second round.
With all the games this week, come out and support all the teams and enjoy this Homecoming week.