GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota women's soccer team opened its 2014 home schedule with a 3-0 loss to Creighton University on Friday at Bronson Field.

Led by senior goalkeeper Kristi Hestdalen's record-breaking performance, UND managed to keep the Creighton offense at bay for most of the game, but two bad bounces opened the door for the Bluejays.

“I think we created some chances against Creighton; Creighton is undefeated, they're a good team, so hats off to them,” head coach Matt Kellogg said. “Creighton scores one goal on their own, and then we helped them, but we created some chances; I think a fairer result would have been a 1-1 tie.”

“We talked about this with the players, is that last year we lost to Creighton 6-0; and we really didn't stand a chance in that game. I think what we can take away from today is that this group, this program, has improved immensely.”

With the loss, UND is now 1-4-0 on the season, while Creighton improves to 6-0-0.

The Bluejays came out firing in the first half, as they registered the game's first eight shots, which came in the first 14 minutes of the game. However, the young-UND backline led by freshman Emily Smithson and sophomore Kristen Olson, who each played the full 90 minutes, held the Bluejays off the scoreboard. UND responded with a counterattack but sophomore Zoe Foster directed a header just wide. Creighton appeared to have scored in the 23rd minute, however, they were flagged for offside.

It was late in the 32nd minute when the first bad bounce occurred for North Dakota. A free-kick attempt by the Bluejays was swung into the box when it hit a UND defender in the hand awarding Creighton a penalty kick. Madelyn Buckner finished off the penalty to give the Bluejays a 1-0 lead.

Less than 10 minutes later, a UND defender misplayed a clearing attempt and the ball found its way into the net for an own goal. The Bluejays carried that 2-0 lead into halftime and held a 16-3 shots advantage.

However, the halftime break did not seem to slow the Bluejays down as Anastasia McCleary finished off a through ball from Alyssa Jara in the 48th minute to extend the Creighton lead to three. North Dakota continued to push in the second half, but could not find a way to get on the scoreboard.

Creighton outshot UND 38-10 in the match, including 21-1 on target. UND's Hestdalen made 18 saves, which set a new UND single-game record. Ashley Salberg, who made 17 saves versus Nebraska Omaha in 2002, held the previous record.

Sophomore Zoe Foster led UND with three shots in the contest, including UND's lone shot on target.

North Dakota continues its home stand Sunday against Northern Iowa at noon.