An early goal for the Sioux created a tempo for the rest of the battle between UND and Houston Baptist Sunday afternoon on the way to a dominating 3-1 victory for the ladies. The win clinches a second place finish in the West Division of the Great West Conference for UND.
Sophomore defenseman Caitlyn Hairing (Fargo, N.D.) scored just shy of two minutes into the game from just past midfield. The goal was unassisted and the only goal of the first period. The Sioux defense pressed the Huskies to the limit for the whole first period allowing only six shots in the half.
The second half featured more of the same for the Sioux on both sides of the ball. Freshman forward Amanda Dahl (Redmond, Wash.) scored the second goal almost immediately after entering the game for the first time at 57:07. Junior forward Rachael Loomis (Fargo, N.D.) was accredited with the assist off a cross to Dahl.
The Sioux would score again two and half minutes later off an assist from junior midfielder Kelsey Zachman (Mahtomedi, Minn.) to senior forward Alex Zarling (Fargo, N.D.) who scored at the 59:38 mark.
HBU would get there first goal at the 61:46 mark by Brandi Hart off an assist from Yuri Santibanez. Despite the goal the now two goal lead by UND was insurmountable and the Sioux defense was at the top of its game keeping the Huskies out of the back of the net for the rest of the game.
Sophomore defender Rhaya Ballon (Rogers, Minn.) led the Sioux with four shots, three of them on goal, and senior goalkeeper Monica Stierman (Mahtomedi, Minn.) finished with four saves. Stierman four saves gives her 101 saves on the season putting her only nine saves shy of toppling the record of 109 set by Ashley Salberg in 2002.
The Sioux return to action next weekend in the final contest of the regular season in a road game at the University of South Dakota. Game time is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29.
