Finish 0 – 2 on road trip
The North Dakota State University soccer team opened Summit League Conference play with a road trip to Denver, Colo., and Omaha, Neb., with losses. On Friday, the Bison dropped a 2 – 0 decision to the pioneers of Denver University. Sunday, the Herd gave up a late goal to the Omaha Mavericks to drop that contest 2 – 1. The Bison (4-5-3, 0-2-0 Summit), managed one goal over the two contests while surrendering 4 goals in total.
Denver, Colo. –
On Friday evening in Denver, the Pioneers struck in both the 31st and 33rd minutes of the first half. In minute 31, a Pioneer corner ended up in the back of the Bison goal after a header bounced off the post and deflected in off of a Bison defender. In the 33rd minute, NDSU keeper Abby Wilkinson had difficulty clearing a shot off Denver’s Delaney McGowan and it went into the Bison goal.
The Bison had opportunities in the second half but could not capitalize. Olivia Watson’s shot in the 52nd minute forced Denver goalie Nerea Arrazola to make a diving save. Just minutes later, Jess Hanley shot was sent towards the goal by Paige Goaley’s header and while it appeared to cross the Pioneer goal line, it was quickly cleared by a Denver defender.
Wilkinson had 2 saves for the Bison in the loss in front of 1,837 fans at the Denver Soccer Complex.
Omaha, Neb. –
On Sunday afternoon at Omaha’s Caniglia Field, the Bison suffered a last-second loss after having just tied the game up at 1 goal apiece. At the 89:50 mark, Omaha’s Sophia Green just pushed a shot past Bison keeper Abby Wilkinson to stun the Bison and sent the largely pro-Maverick crowd of 365 into a frenzy. Wilkinson got a hand on it but could not stop it from hitting the back of the net.
The Bison tied the contest up at 1 – 1 on Kelsey Kallio’s second goal of the season at 84:56. Kallio, fired a shot inside the far post after receiving a pass from Paige Goaley. Goaley fielded the ball cleanly off of Ashleigh Heely’s free kick.
Wilkinson had 2 saves for the Bison.
The Bison will now return to historic Dacotah Field for their conference home opener. On Friday, the Bison will face St. Thomas University at 6 p.m. and Western Illinois University at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Student tickets are available at GoBison.com/Students