Box Score (PDF)
MACOMB, Ill. – Junior forward
Lauren Miller stepped to the penalty spot and converted in the 96th-minute of the match to give the North Dakota State University women's soccer team (12-5-1, 7-0-1 Summit League) a 1-0 overtime win at Western Illinois (2-15-0, 1-7-0 Summit League) in the 2015 regular season finale on Sunday, Nov. 1, at John Mackenzie Field.
With the win, the Bison finish Summit League play unbeaten for the first time in program history at 7-0-1 and are the league's outright regular season champions.
"Today was a great effort by the Bison. The conditions were extremely difficult, and we did an excellent job controlling the entire game," North Dakota State head coach
Mark Cook said. "This team finds ways to win games, and I am very proud of this group. To go unbeaten in the league is a tremendous accomplishment, and something this group should feel really good about, especially our four seniors."
Miller's game-winning penalty-kick was her team and Summit League-high 16th goal of the season – a new North Dakota State women's soccer single season record.
Western Illinois committed a foul inside the box six minutes into extra time, setting up Miller's decisive PK.
Senior goalkeeper
Sierra Bonham made a match-high five saves and didn't surrender a goal to pick up her team and league-high eighth shutout of 2015 and improve to 12-5-1 overall in goal.
For the match, North Dakota State outshot Western Illinois, 23-12, and had an impressive 8-1 edge in corner kicks taken.
Skyler Jessop paced the Leathernecks offensively with two shots on goal.
WIU goalkeeper Victoria Kappel made four saves, but took the loss after surrendering the game-winning goal to finish the season at 2-15-0 in goal.
North Dakota State will open Summit League tournament play as the number one seed and will take on fourth-seeded South Dakota on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Fishback Soccer Park in Brookings, S.D., at 3 p.m.