Box Score (PDF)
VERMILLION, S.D. – The North Dakota State women's soccer team closed the regular season Friday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over South Dakota at FB&T Soccer Complex.
After a scoreless first half that saw the Bison put six shots on goal, NDSU found the back of the net in the 61
st minute. Off an assist from
Dani Stuber and
Holly Enderle,
Mariah Haberle found the back of the net for the seventh time this season from eight-yards out. Haberle leads the team in goals, while it was the first assist of the season for Stuber and the third for Enderle.
Enderle, Haberle and
Mallory Fenske each had three shots for the Bison, with Enderle and Haberle each putting them all on goal.
Brookelyn Dew had two shots on goal, while
Sydney Johnson had a pair of shots. Haberle moved into sixth in school history on the single-season list in shots (72) and shots on goal (36).
"We got off to a slow start in the first half," NDSU Head Coach
Mike Regan said. "Second half we got to the edge a bit more. I thought we should have scored more in the box. Overall, we'll take the result."
Monica Polgar picked up her ninth win in the net, as she finished with four saves. Polgar became the fourth player in NDSU history with 200 or more career saves. She also moved into a tie for ninth in school history with her ninth win of the season.
NDSU held a 16-15 advantage in shots, as the Bison improved to 8-1 on the year when having more shots than their opponents. The Bison also improved to 8-1 when scoring first in matches. It was the fourth-straight 1-0 match the NDSU has been a part of, earning victories in three of them.
"This stage in the season we need to keep playing our best," Regan said. "We need to win two games next week. The last five games have shown we deserve to be with the best in the conference and next week we get to go prove it."
The Bison close the regular season with an 9-6 overall record and 6-2 record in The Summit League, having won four of their final five matches. With the win, NDSU moved into a tie for second in the league standings, but will be the number three seed in The Summit League Tournament next week. The Bison will face Denver in the semifinals at a time to be announced on Thursday, Nov. 1 in Brookings, S.D.
