MACOMB, Ill. – Senior Catherine Klein became the University of North Dakota's all-time shutouts leader at Western Illinois as she stopped two Leatherneck shots behind a Megan Wright goal to lift the Fighting Hawks over WIU, 1-0.
 
Klein, who registered her sixth shutout, bested the mark set by Eve Compton (2000-04) just three days after equaling it at Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday night.
 
Though Western Illinois controlled possession in the match at 60-40 clip, North Dakota took advantage of its offensive chances as it outshot the Leathernecks on goal, 4-2. UND posted an even two shots on target in the first and second half.
 
Wright gave UND its lead in the 25th minute as she curled a ball into the top left corner of the net from a corner kick. The goal was her second of the season and made her the ninth player on the Fighting Hawks roster with at least two goals. Only Mimi Eiden (7) and Mara Yapello (4) have more this season.
 
The Fighting Hawks worked aggressively in the second half as they earned nine fouls to Western Illinois' two, staving off the Leathernecks attack before it could reach the 18-yard box. Though the UND defense allowed Western Illinois to cross midfield over 60-percent of the team's possession, the Hawks only allowed them to reach the goal box 17-percent of the time.
 
North Dakota defenders Karly Sandoval, Ashley Ebeling, Sarah Doran, Karleen Yapello, and Hannah Olson all played the full 90 minutes for the Fighting Hawks. The group was instrumental in allowing Klein to break the all-time mark this season, with all of them playing a part in the team's seven shutouts.
 
The Fighting Hawks, currently in second place in The Summit League, own a 3-1 record in conference play and are 9-4-1 overall. North Dakota's ninth win equals last year's total, the best mark in the Division I era.
 
North Dakota returns to action Thursday, Oct. 17, when it hosts Oral Roberts.