Bemidji State falls in overtime to NDSU, 2-1
FARGO, N.D. – In a women’s soccer season that so far has been a learning experience, North Dakota State got a lesson Friday in time management. The game isn’t over until it’s over.
Bemidji State scored with one second remaining in regulation when Mary O’Brien converted a direct kick from in front of the Bison bench. Her header forced overtime, a game that the Bison ultimately won 2-1 at the Ellig Sports Complex.
Freshman Lizzie Lukas’ game-winning goal came with 2:19 left in the second and final overtime. It rescued the Bison from the feeling of a loss against Division II Bemidji (2-1).
“It was a bummer we gave up that last goal,” Lukas said. “This took a lot of pressure off us. That’s a team we definitely should have beaten.”
The Bison will take a 2-4 record to the University of North Dakota on Sunday. It was the second game winner for Lukas, who also did it against Eastern Washington.
“We’ll take it,” said NDSU head coach Mark Cook. “It was a good response for us.”
The Beavers just missed a chance of winning it in the first 10-minute overtime when Jessie Voeller’s shot was barely deflected off the cross bar by Bison goalkeeper Katie McCormick. After switching sides, Lukas ended it taking a pass from Anisha Kinnarath and flicking it by Bemidji goalkeeper Brittany Tietz.
“We were dead tired,” Lukas said.
NDSU controlled the ball for the most part, something that wasn’t a strong point to date. Starting goalkeeper Sierra Bonham came into the game easily on pace to set a single season saves-per-game record. That’s not necessarily a good thing.
Bonham had one save in playing only the first half against the Beavers and now has 33 on the season. She came in averaging 8.0 saves a game in what was not a statistically favorable start for the Bison, who were outshot 109-32 in the first five games.
“Right now, we’re struggling in possession,” Cook said. “We’ve played solid teams but we’ve made a lot of mistakes on our end and we also haven’t taken as many chances as we should (on offense).”
NDSU’s first-half goal by Jordyn Wallenborn came shortly after O’Brien missed a wide-open attempt from out front.
“We battled,” Cook said.
FIRST HALF: 1. NDSU, Wallenborn (Krambeer), 23:39.
SECOND HALF: 1, BSU, O’Brien (VanHaaften, Lumberg), 89:59.
FIRST OVERTIME: No scoring.
SECOND OVERTIME: 2, NDSU, Lukas (Kinnarath), 107:41.
SAVES: Bemidji, Barr, 1, Tietz 7. NDSU, Bonham, 1, McCormick 2.
Fargo Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack can be reached at (701) 241-5546.
Kolpack’s NDSU media blog can be found
at www.areavoices.com/bisonmedia
Kolpack hosts of the WDAY Golf Show Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on 970-AM.
