The North Dakota State Women’s Soccer team claimed their fifth win for the year in their game against the University of Denver. This was the season finale and the Bison went off on a banger, breaking the Pioneers’ 57-game winning streak in the Summit League and the Bison ended a nine-game losing streak to Denver. 

Denver (9-2-5 (5-1-1 Summit)) has chalked 14 total wins, including the Summit League. The University of Denver dropped their undefeated Summit League record for the 2023 season against the Bison. NDSU (5-6-6 (1-3-4 Summit)) has a valuable report of wins for the year but claimed their first in the league against DU.

For the majority of the first half, NDSU had dominant possession of the ball, putting the Pioneers in their place. Both Amaya Garrett and Olivia Watson had close shots on net, but they were blocked by DU freshman goalkeeper, Molly Wissman, in the 26th minute. Kiera Flanagan, Denver midfielder/forward, had two shots on net in the 39th and 44th minutes but were both saved by Bison goalkeeper, Abby Wilkinson. 

In the second half, Hannah Tate received a yellow card in the 47th minute. Alicia Nead had a shot that went just over the top of the goalpost following the penalty. In the 61st minute, Olivia Watson had back-to-back shots on net but were both saved by Wissman. Paige Goaley her third goal of the season, with a header assist off the crossbar by Olivia Watson, in the 69th minute. Goaley then finished her NDSU season with 10 goals.

In an intense and win-thirsty game, Denver only had five shots on net, all saved by Wilkinson. In her last season on the field as a Bison, Wilkinson finalizes her career with her sixth clean sheet of the season. Having 180 career saves and 11 overall shutouts makes her the sixth most in NDSU history to achieve this. 

The game would then end with a 1-0, Bison win. NDSU’s season has come to a close, Denver will be playing the University of North Dakota in the Summit League tournament. They can grab the 2023 Summit League season title by winning against UND, or a SDSU loss or tie at Kansas City. If Denver secures the win, it would be their sixth straight wins in a row and eighth overall Summit League title.