North Dakota State University’s women’s soccer team opened the second half with a quick strike, but the lead evaporated as Minnesota’s Golden Gophers rallied to secure a 2‑1 victory at Dacotah Field on Thursday night.
A Bison Setback at Dacotah Field
Morgan Russmann, the Bison’s sophomore forward, found the net in the 65th minute, marking her first goal of the season. The strike was set up by assists from Payton Mulberry and Abby DeSena, who combined to break through the Gophers’ defense.
Minnesota answered just a minute later, with Ava Westlund converting a free‑kick in the 46th minute to level the contest. Westlund added a second goal from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute, restoring parity before the Bison could respond.
Despite the setback, NDSU’s backstop, Payton Mulberry, kept the game within reach with four saves, while Gabrielle Garrett also tested the Gophers’ defense with two shots on goal. The match was tightly contested, featuring a total of ten shots on target from both sides.
Looking Ahead to Washington State
The Bison will look to bounce back when they host Washington State on August 23 at 1 p.m., hoping to translate their early‑half intensity into a full‑time result.