GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- A second half surge provided the University of North Dakota soccer team the offense it needed to pick up its first Big Sky Conference win of the season, downing Southern Utah, 4-1, Sunday afternoon at Bronson Field.
North Dakota improves to 2-9-2 (1-4-0 BSC) on the season, while Southern Utah drops to 2-9-1 (1-4-0 BSC).
The Fighting Hawks scored their quickest goal of the season, scoring on the first shot of the game in the third minute of play. Sophomore Veronica Kessler played the ball up to Bella Mantaro who then took a shot just inside the top of the box. Her shot arced over Southern Utah's goalkeeper Destiny Collins and into the back of the net for Mantaro's first goal of the season.
In the second half, North Dakota took to the field having to fight a growing wind out of the south. Despite the challenges of attacking into the wind, the Fighting Hawks put together their best half of soccer all year; scoring three goals within a 24-minute span.
Junior Emily Smithson led the charge in the second half, as she scored UND's second goal, the eventual game-winner, and assisting on the last two.
In the 50th minute, UND earned a corner kick and Liz McDowell had a perfect service, placing the ball on the far side of the net and just outside the six-yard box. Smithson got underneath the service and headed it into the back of the net for her first of the year.
North Dakota struck again in the 68th minute. Smithson collected the ball at center field before getting a through ball up the middle to Kessler who was able to stay onside and streak up the field an unopposed chance on net. She easily beat Collins on the breakaway to score her second of the season and put UND up 3-0.
Just five minutes later, North Dakota added its fourth and final goal of the game behind a two-on-one rush. Smithson found herself racing down the left flank with only one defender between her and sophomore Katie Moller who was rushing alongside up the middle. Smithson dished the ball off to Moller who had an open look on net. Moller's shot went off the right post of the net, but with Collins out of position, Moller collected her own rebound and put it in the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
Despite the late 4-0 deficit, the Thunderbirds kept pushing to get on the board. Southern Utah did manage to get a goal after being awarded a penalty kick, and getting a mulligan in the PK attempt after the referee ruled that a UND player encroached before the kick had been taken. The original attempt was stopped by goalkeeper Olivia Swenson, but the Thunderbirds' Haley Adams put the second attempt into the net to erase Swenson's bid for a clean sheet.
Overall, Swenson made 12 saves on the day, not including the original PK stop since it was nullified by the referee. On the other end, Collins made seven saves in the losing effort for the Thunderbirds.
North Dakota returns to Bronson Field for Homecoming weekend, hosting Sacramento State on Friday and Portland State on Sunday.
