FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State soccer closed a five-game homestand with a 2-2 tie against the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Sunday, Sept. 24 in Summit League play at Dacotah Field.
The Bison (4-3-4, 0-0-2 Summit League) fell behind midway through the first, but answered back with two goals in the next five minutes from
Olivia Watson and
Kelsey Kallio. However, Omaha (4-3-3, 1-0-1 Summit League) would get an early second half goal to level the game and share the points.
NDSU had an early chance in the 18
th minute with a free kick from close range, but the shot from
Olivia Watson was blocked by the wall. Less than a minute later, Omaha would take the lead on their own free kick in the 19
th minute, as Grace Crockett's cross was deflected past NDSU goalkeeper
Abby Wilkinson by Marissa Gohr.
The Bison would respond almost immediately in the 21
st minute, as they capitalized on a quick break.
McKenna Strand played a ball ahead to
Alicia Nead, who then found
Olivia Watson, and the junior slotted a shot into the bottom left corner past Omaha goalkeeper Emma Konsmo for her fourth goal of the season.
In the 24
th minute, the Bison would take the lead on another quick break, as Watson's cross into the box had a failed clearance on a punch from Konsmo, and
Kelsey Kallio was able to head it in from close range for her second header goal in as many games.
The Bison would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the half, outnumbering Omaha in shots 6-4, forcing two more saves from Konsmo.
However, Omaha would capitalize less than three minutes into the second half to tie the game. Regan Zimmers free kick into the box was flicked on by Cece Behrens to Sophia Green, and Green was able to head the ball down before shooting across goal to level the score in the 48
th minute.
Neither team would hit the target for the remainder of the game, as Omaha outshot NDSU 4-1 in the second half, but all shots besides Green's goal in the final half missed wide.
The Bison will now hit the road for the first of three straight away from Dacotah Field in Summit League play, as NDSU heads to Brookings to take on South Dakota State on Thursday, Sept. 28. The game will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.