GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- On a day where a fall crisp was in the air, the University of North Dakota soccer team opened up its 2016 campaign with a 0-0 draw against Northern Iowa on Friday at Bronson Field.
The Fighting Hawks came into the 2016 season looking to build on its best finish in the Big Sky Conference era a year ago. UND returns nine of its eleven starters from last season, including 87 percent of its scoring output and its All-Big Sky Honorable Mention goalkeeper in Olivia Swenson.
North Dakota got out to the start it wanted, firing the game's first two shots in the opening minute of action. Senior forward Zoe Foster recorded both of those shots; just missing wide on the second attempt.
UND continued to overwhelm the Panther's defense in the opening minutes of the contest. The Fighting Hawks saw its best chance of the first half in the eighth minute when sophomore Katie Moller, who finished second on the team in goals with three last season, fired a shot labeled for the top corner but was spoiled by a diving save from UNI keeper Whitney Blunt.
Following the Moller chance in the eighth minute, UNI cranked up the offensive pressure and started to control the play as the first half wore on.
The Panthers got their first shot on goal in the 22nd minute when Mary Brandt fired a shot towards the net, but Swenson, who made a UND record 179 saves last season, turned the shot away for the sophomore's first save of the season.
However just after the save and a following corner by UNI, Swenson was forced leave the game with a lower-body injury.
This forced true freshman Catherine Klein into the net for her first collegiate action, and the freshman did not disappoint.
Klein turned away all nine shots and helped provide composure to the rest of her teammates as UND was able to keep the Panthers off the board for the remainder of the match.
The Fighting Hawks outshot the Panthers 24-21 on the game, but UNI registered 10 shots on goal to UND's six.
North Dakota's ability to defend set pieces was also put to the test as UNI won nine corner kicks compared to none for UND.
Today's marks the first time in North Dakota history it has started a season with a tie, and the first non-opening loss since a 3-2 win over South Dakota in 2011.
On Sunday, UND heads to Vermillion, S.D. to battle the Coyotes for a record 28th time. Kick-off is set for noon.
-UND-
