TULSA, Okla. – Brittany Mueller picked not only a convenient time to score her first-career goal at UND, but the senior transfer from North Dakota State did it in spectacular fashion as her 40-yard strike in the 61st minute stood up as the University of North Dakota soccer team defeated Oral Roberts, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.
The Fighting Hawks move to 7-2-1 this year, setting a new season-high for wins in the Division I era (2008-present), while also becoming the first team in program history to gain a positive result in their first six road contests.
"We didn't play well today and were second best for long periods against a very good side but the team found a way," said Head Coach
Chris Logan. "We were in our best passage of play when we scored and managed to capitalize during the period. Great hit by Brittany and sometimes you need a little bit of inspiration to win a tight game."
The victory is the first for the program as a member of The Summit League and the 2018 team becomes the first in UND history to win a league matchup in its first season competing in a new conference (1999 0-6-0 NCC, 2009 0-5-1 Great West, 2012 0-9-0 Big Sky).
"The Summit League is very strong this year and every team is hard," echoed Logan. "We are happy with our first conference win!"
Olivia Swenson turned in her sixth clean sheet of the season and has still yet to allow a goal away from Grand Forks. The senior made three saves, including a sparkling stop midway through the first half, to push her road shutout streak to 614:42.
North Dakota controlled the pace for a majority of the opening minutes, with
Cassie Giddings getting the game's first two looks on goal. The freshman made a great move to shake free of the defender before nearly sneaking a shot between the goalkeeper and the post, but the try was denied by the keeper.
UND kept the pressure on in the first half, winning a couple of corner kicks and turning the set piece opportunities into good offensive chances. In the 29th minute,
Katie Moller tried a shot from the top of the box that was deflected by the defense and was cleared by the Golden Eagles.
Moments later, a corner kick from
Kaylee Kebba was sent into a dangerous area in the box where in found the head of
Mimi Eiden but her header was just wide of the post as the contest remained scoreless.
Oral Roberts (6-8-0, 1-1-0 Summit) started to create chances as the first half wore on, nearly taking the lead on back-to-back occasions. Sierra Beall had the first chance when her shot looked to be labeled for the corner, but a diving stop by Swenson kept the hosts off the board.
With less than three minutes before halftime, Jordan Langebartels struck the post off a header and Oral Roberts followed up with back-to-back corners, but Swenson and the UND backline held strong to send the game into the intermission scoreless.
North Dakota started the second half much like the began the first, creating pressuring and forcing the ORU backline on its heels. The Fighting Hawks earned a trio of corner kicks in a matter of minutes, recording shot attempts on all three set pieces, including a header by Mueller that was just wide.
With momentum on the side of the visitors, the Hawks finally cashed in with a goal as Mueller stole the ball and fired a shot from about 40-yards out that was blistered into the top corner to break the scoreless deadlock and give UND a 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, Oral Roberts pressed but could not find an equalizer as the UND backline held the hosts to just one shot on goal over the final 30 minutes of action to hold on for the 1-0 victory.
North Dakota returns home for a pair of conference matchups beginning on Thursday against Western Illinois at 3 p.m. and concluding with a showdown against in-state rival North Dakota State on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Both contests will be at East Grand Forks Senior High.
