Box Score FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota State soccer team used a balanced attack to defeat Summit League foe Southern Utah, 2-0, on Friday, Oct. 23. Junior Abbey Stratton scored a first half goal, while sophomore Danielle Boldenow added one in the second half. Junior Quin Ryan assisted on both goals.
The Bison improve to 8-6-2 overall and are in first place in the Summit League with a 5-1 mark. Southern Utah falls to 3-11-2 and 1-4-1 in league play.
Southern Utah had a couple early shots, but sophomore goalie Kalani Bertsch made comfortable saves. After withstanding the early pressure, the Bison turned the tables and took the ball to the Thunderbirds end. In the 15th minute, freshman Brooklyn Dyce had a shot cleared off the goal line by a defender. The next four shots by the Bison were blocked by Thunderbird players.
The Bison finally broke through in the 19th minute when Stratton headed in a ball off a cross from Ryan. It was Stratton's first goal of the year.
NDSU continued to pressure the Southern Utah defense, forcing goalie Breana Fitzgerald into two saves and having shots by Lorraine Thompson and Stratton saved by defenders. The Bison finished the half with 16 shots to the Thunderbirds' seven.
With a 1-0 lead, the Bison continued to press in the second half. A 56th minute shot from senior Becky Iwanicki hit the crossbar, but the rebound fell to Ryan, who crossed it to Boldenow. Boldenow made no mistake on the cross to give the Bison a 2-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Southern Utah's Makell Southworth had a shot saved by the Bison defense. Southworth also forced Bertsch into two saves in the half. The NDSU defense continued to step up and kept the Thunderbirds off the board.
With the 2-0 win, the Bison earned their fourth shutout of the season, but first in Summit League play.
NDSU will now host UMKC on Sunday, Oct. 25 at noon in the final home game of the year. Prior to the game, seniors Becky Iwanicki, Laura Murphy and Lorraine Thompson will be honored for their contributions to the Bison soccer program.
