DENVER – In a match played under a blanket of snow, the University of North Dakota soccer team fell, 1-0, to Denver on Sunday afternoon from the Mile High City.
 
"This has been a tough week for the team," said Head Coach Chris Logan. "After not getting the three points when we were up last Sunday and then being at our best Thursday evening put a lot of adversity on us. Today, the team played a great game against the best team in the conference and we had them hanging on at the end."
 
The three-match winless streak has been a slight setback for a North Dakota (8-4-2, 2-2-1 Summit League) squad that had placed themselves in a firm postseason position; however, with the results across the conference today the Fighting Hawks currently sit two points out of fourth place in the standings. Oral Roberts, who UND defeated earlier this season, currently sits in the coveted fourth-and-final position of teams that qualify for the Summit League Tournament with nine points.
 
Hannah Alder broke a scoreless deadlock in the 39th minute with her fifth goal of the contest to give the league-leading Pioneers (9-5-2, 5-1-0 Summit League) all the offense they needed for the afternoon as neither side could find the back of the net again.
 
"I'm delighted with how the ladies responded today," stressed Logan. "Our focus now will continue to be on making sure we play with the same passion and desire for the rest of the season!"
 
In the first meeting between the programs in history, it was the homeside who came out attacking to begin the contest as the Pioneers had a shot blocked and earned a corner in the opening minute.
 
UND collected its first opportunity of the game with a corner kick of its own in the eighth minute, but Megan Wright's ball was cleared by the DU backline.
 
The teams continued to trade chances as the first half wore on as both keepers were forced to make their first saves in the 13th and 20th minutes. Olivia Swenson turned away a try by Leah Swander before Ashley Ebeling had a good look on goal off a Katie Moller corner kick that was stopped by Brittany Wilson.
 
The Pioneers began to crank up the offensive pressure in the midway point of the first half, firing five straight shots on goal but Swenson was up to the task again with save-after-save.
 
Denver finally broke through in the 39th minute thanks to some pretty passing. After the leftback position found the holding midfielder, Heather Turcios played a ball into the box where it found the feet of Adler where she finished off her fifth of the season from just inside the one-yard line to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
 
UND had the final look towards goal to end the first half, but Ebeling's shot was denied as the Fighting Hawks went into the locker room trailing 1-0.
 
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first as it was Denver who created early offensive chances in the frame. After a pair of shots didn't make it through to Swenson, Adler nearly made it 2-0 but her try struck the post in the 61st minute to keep it a one-shot contest.
 
Moller had her first look at goal in the 78th minute, but her shot whistled over the top of the net. Moments later, Denver struck one off the post again and allowed UND to push forward on the counterattack where Wright's shot was just wide in the 82nd minute as the Hawks were desperate for the equalizer.
 
Veronica Kessler nearly leveled the game in the 85th minute with another shot on goal in the second half for UND, but again was turned away by the keeper. Less than two minutes later, the Pioneers hit iron for the third time in the game as a header from Camryn MacMillan ricochet off the post and kept the visitors alive.
 
UND might have saved its best chance for last as Olivia Knox, who has struck in back-to-back games, fired a shot towards goal in the 89th minute, but Wilson made a final save for the Pioneers to hold on for the victory.
 
North Dakota will enjoy a nice seven day break from action, returning home to host Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday at noon from EGF Senior High in a pivotal contest for league standings.