MISSOULA, Mont.--Unable to answer a first-period goal, the North Dakota State women's soccer team dropped to 4-5-1 on the season with a 3-0 defeat at the University of Montana in their first match at the Montana Nike Cup on Friday, Sept. 29.

Montana evened its season mark to 5-5-0 with the victory in front of 633 fans at South Campus Stadium.

The Grizzlies first strike came in the 41st minute with a shot inside the right post by Meghan Chambers to enter the half with a 1-0 lead.

Looking to score the equalizer in the second frame by pushing the ball, the Bison defense was caught on two occasions to put the game out of reach.

Mahlleace Tomsin took a cross by Chambers and put the ball in the back of the net in the 78th minute. Chambers struck again in the 79th minute after slipping by a Bison defender and shooting the ball into the far post.

Monica Morgan stopped three shots in the loss for NDSU while Montana keeper Grace Harris denied one Bison shot attempt for the shutout.

Lorraine Thompson provided the best scoring chance for the Herd with a right-footed dart from 20 yards which sailed just over the crossbar in the middle of the second period.

The Bison held a three to one advantage in corner kicks, but Montana countered by generating 19 shots to NDSU's six. After committing a combined 23 fouls in the first period, the teams settled down to 12 in the second period with Montana called for a total of 19 offenses to NDSU's 16.

NDSU will play Northern Colorado on Sunday with an 10:30 a.m. (MT) kickoff. The Bears defeated South Dakota State 3-0 in early action of the Nike Cup. Montana and South Dakota State will face each other in the final match of the tournament.