FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State women's soccer team scored four second-half goals to pull away and cruise to victory over Western Illinois Sunday afternoon in Summit League play at Dacotah Field.
 
The Bison (5-6-3, 1-3-0 Summit League) had 11 shots in the first half, but were unable to find a breakthrough until nearly nine minutes into the second half when Olivia Watson opened the scoring for NDSU. Lavin Douglass made a run in the center of the box and set up Watson on the right side of the penalty area, where she fired a shot into the top of the net for her fourth goal of the year.
 
Five minutes later, the Bison doubled their lead, as Kelsey Kallion headed home her third goal of the season. Loretta Wacek won a ball on the right wing and played it ahead to Alicia Nead, who then whipped a cross in toward goal for Kallio to elevate on and redirect into the net to make it 2-0.
 
Western Illinois (3-6-3, 1-3-0 Summit League) would get a couple of shots towards Abby Wilkinson in the mid part of the second half, but the Bison keeper would make four saves for her fourth career cleansheet and third of the season.
 
North Dakota State would continue to dominate the game and Paige Goaley added to the lead in the 73^rd minute as she also scored her fourth goal of the season, matching Watson for a team high. Alicia Nead won a ball in the midfield and played it ahead to Olivia Lovick, who sent a through ball that released Goaley to a 1-on-1 with goalkeeper Isabel Navas Rodriguez. Goaley played it past Navas Rodriguez and tucked the ball into the open net.
 
The Bison would add one more in the final minute, as Wacek joined the scoring with another 1-on-1 attempt. Wacek beat an offside trap from the Western Illinois defense and Goaley found the sophomore on the right side. Wacek ran it in and finessed a shot past Navas Rodriguez for the final goal.
 
It's the second time this season that the Bison scored four goals in a game this season, matching a four-goal performance against Chicago State in late August. The Bison handed Western Illinois their largest defeat of the season as well.
 
The Bison had 11 shots in both halves, finishing with a season high 22, including 11 on goal. Western Illinois finished with seven shots and four on goal.
 
North Dakota State will head back out on the road next week with a trip down I-29 to Kansas City to face the Roos on October 7. It will be NDSU's first trip to Kansas City since 2011.