Bison blank UND 2-0 in Summit League soccer play
Oct. 16—GRAND FORKS — UND and North Dakota State met in a Summit League soccer match at Bronson Field on Sunday, a day that featured a 37-degree temperature, a 24-mph wind out of the north and a wind chill of 27 degrees.
It wasn't a nice — or even decent — day for soccer.
But it was even worse for UND, which dropped a 2-0 decision to NDSU. It was a loss that perhaps makes it harder for UND to reach the upcoming six-team league tournament.
"I told the team I feel for them," said UND coach Chris Logan. "Soccer is a weird game. In the first half, they scored out of nowhere and we had several good chances.
"In the second half, we hit the underside of the bar and somehow it doesn't go in. I think we did everything but win the game. That's two years in a row we played NDSU, dominated the game and not won somehow. I feel like it's a curse or something."
Paige Goaley put the Bison on the board at the 10-minute mark with Olivia Lovick assisting. Lovick made it 2-0 at the 60-minute mark as the left-footed kicker scored on a penalty kick, lifting her shot over the outstretched arms of UND goalie Madi Livingston.
Livingston finished with six saves to NDSU goalie Abby Wilkinson's eight.
NDSU coach Mike Regan said he was pleased with his team's play.
"I was really pleased with the team today in tough conditions," said the Bison coach. "In tough conditions, we went about our business really, really well. We had two great goals. We knew we'd get (scoring) chances because UND drops off quite a bit."
Both UND and NDSU are battling for the sixth, and final, spot in the Summit League standings. The top six qualify for the two week league tournament that starts in two weeks.
With the win, NDSU — 3-4-0 in Summit play — now has nine league points while UND is right behind with 8.
And it won't be easy for either team next weekend.
UND plays league leader South Dakota State on Friday. SDSU is one of only three undefeated teams in the county. And the Hawks close out the regular season against South Dakota next Sunday. The Bison has the same two teams next weekend as well.
"We have two home games left to make sure we turn in good performances," said Logan.
Overall, NDSU improved to 7-7-3 while UND dropped to 6-7-4.
