NDSU Soccer Blanks Westmont to Begin California Trip

Thursday, September 3

Santa Barbara, Calif.

4:15 p.m.

North Dakota State

2-3-2, 0-0-0

Westmont

0-2-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
North Dakota St.	2	0	2
Westmont	0	0	0

Photo by: Emily Hosna

NDSU Soccer Blanks Westmont to Begin California Trip

9/3/2026 6:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – North Dakota State soccer opened up its first road trip of the season with a 2-0 win Thursday afternoon over Westmont at Thorrington Field.

The Bison dominated early, outnumbering the Warriors 13-1 in shots in the opening half, forcing a couple key saves early in the match. Hannah Arnold would eventually find the breakthrough and put the Bison in front in the 26^th minute.

Gabrielle Garrett started the scoring chance on the opening goal, making a run down the right wing and sending a cross into the box. Morgan Russmann then made a flick on the cross and Arnold headed the ball across the line for her first of the season. Russmann's assist moved her into a tie with Arnold and three others for ninth in NDSU's Division I era at 10.

87 seconds later, Russmann would double the Bison lead with her team-leading third goal of the season. Tyreese Zacher played a ball up to Russmann, who headed the ball past her defender and out paced her for a breakaway attempt. Russmann then worked past the Westmont goalkeeper and found an open net to move into a tie for fifth in goals in NDSU's Division I era, matching Quin Ryan with 20 career goals.

The Bison would create several more quality chances, including Mirabelle Keselman forcing a diving save late in the first and Abby DeSena hitting the post in the second half with two of the closest opportunities to extend the lead.

NDSU finished with 19 shots to just two for Westmont, who were unable to get a shot off from inside the penalty area in the contest. The shutout is the second straight for Payton Mulberry and the Bison, and the third in the last four games. It is the 10^th career cleansheet for Mulberry, moving her into a tie for seventh in NDSU's all-time history.

North Dakota State will continue its stay in Santa Barbara, California this week, taking on UC Santa Barbara on Sunday. Kickoff against the Gauchos is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at Harder Stadium.