FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State Bison soccer team (2-3-0) defeated the Idaho Vandals (0-4-0), 3-2, in a hard fought match Friday evening, Sept. 6, at Dacotah Field. The match marked the first-ever official soccer match conducted at Dacotah Field. Anisha Kinnarath tallied a brace, scoring two goals, including the game-winning penalty kick while Lauren Miller also added a goal in the winning effort for the Bison.

NDSU didn't waste much time finding the back of the net after the match kicked off. Kinnarath controlled a perfectly placed short corner kick from Amy Yang and blasted it to the lower right corner of the net just six minutes into the match to give the Bison the early 1-0 lead. Kavita Battan had an answer for the Vandals though in the 32^nd minute, sliding a cross-kick from Amada Pease to the lower left corner of the goal for the equalizer.

The match was all square going into intermission. The Bison and Vandals each tallied three shots in the first half while NDSU led in corner kicks, 2-1.

The second half was physical battle, with both teams fighting to gain the lead. The Bison were the first to break through in the second half. Lauren Miller controlled the ball on the left side of the box from 20 yards out and placed it perfectly in the lower right corner of the net to give NDSU the 2-1 advantage in the 65^th minute. The Bison made it 3-1 just two minutes later when a penalty-kick was awarded on a hard foul in the box by the Vandals. Kinnarath stepped up to the spot and drilled it past Idaho goalkeeper Torrell Stewart to complete the brace. The Vandals cut the Bison lead to 3-2 after another penalty-kick was given, this time on a hard foul by NDSU in the 77^th minute. North Dakota State goalie Sierra Bonham guessed wrong and Idaho's Elexis Schlossarek kick sailed into the back of the net. The Bison defense took over from there though, not allowing another shot from the Vandals to seal the 3-2 victory.

NDSU outshot the Vandals in the match, 8-6, including a 6-4 advantage in shots-on-goal. The Bison also controlled the corner kicks, ending the match with a 6-1 advantage.

The brace by Kinnarath gives her a team-high four goals while Miller's goal marks her second this season. The assist from Yang is the first of her young collegiate career.

Bonham went the full 90 in-goal for the Bison, tallying two saves in the winning effort to improve her record to 2-3 on the season. Stewart took the loss for the Vandals after allowing two goals in the second half.

Prior to first kick Friday evening NDSU President Dean Bresciani, Vice President of Finance and Administration Bruce Bollinger, Director of Facilities Management Mike Ellingson and Maintenance and Project Coordinator Chrs Hamre were recognized by Bison soccer for making the relocation to Dacotah Field a reality.  

The Bison continue their home stand at Dacotah Field Sunday, Sept. 8 when they host Minnesota-Duluth in a 1 p.m. match.