GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota soccer team concluded its nonconference portion of the schedule this afternoon with a tough 3-1 loss to Western Illinois at Bronson Field Sunday.
The Leathernecks scored three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes of regulation to secure the win and improve to 7-2 on the year. UND falls to 2-4 and will look to regroup this week before opening Big Sky competition next Friday at home against Sacramento State.
UND couldn't have asked for a better start as junior Amanda Dahl (Redmond, Wash.) found the back of the net for her first goal of the season only 1:31 into the game. Freshman Taryn MacMillan (Rosemount, Minn.) collected the assist for her sixth point of the year.
North Dakota closed out the first half with aggressive defense to take the lead into the break.
Playing shorthanded up front due to injuries, the home team couldn't add to its lead in the second half and attempted to hold on with a strong defensive effort.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, the Leathernecks thought they had evened the game as Sarah Hall put the ball into the net, but the goal was waved off for offsides. WIU was called for offsides 12 times in the game.
Sophomore Kristi Hestdalen (Pierre, S.D.) stopped her first nine shots faced in the game, but WIU evened the game with a goal by Skyler Jessop at 71:08.
The Leathernecks carried the momentum to grab the eventual game-winner as Kristin Becker scored on a corner kick that couldn't be handled by Hestdalen in the 84th minute.
Sarah Hall put the game out of reach with the Leathernecks third unanswered goal of the second half with under two minutes to play.
North Dakota was outshot 22-6 and trailed 9-2 in corner kick opportunites.
Hestdalen concluded the game with nine saves in the losing effort while WIU's Victoria Kappel picks up the win with three saves.
