GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Despite spending two-thirds of the matching on the attacking end of the field and outshooting North Dakota State (6-3 Summit), the University of North Dakota (2-3 Summit) could not overcome a two-goal deficit as it fell to the Bison in its home opener, 2-1.

North Dakota paced NDSU in shots, 12-8. The Bison led in shots on target, 5-3, and in total possession, 51-percent to 49-percent.

The Fighting Hawks and Bison went up and down the pitch in the opening half of play, with UND leading the shot count, 6-2. However, the Bison led on the scoreboard as Lavin Douglas collected a loose 50-50 ball on the fringe of the 18-yard box, dribbling to the top of the box and curving a shot to the bottom right of the net to give NDSU a 1-0 edge in the 30th minute.

The Bison doubled their lead in the 51st minute when Danielle Algera slipped a deflected shot into the side netting and past Madi Livingston in net to put the Bison on top 2-0.

While NDSU controlled most of the possession in the second half, working up and down the wings of the field, the Fighting Hawks were opportunistic and worked to create space with its off-the-ball runs.

Though UND was called offsides four times, the runs paid dividends in the second half as Mara Yapello and Bailey McNitt worked the ball into the Fighting Hawks attacking third. Cassie Giddings broke the shutout for UND, scoring in the 67th minute of action, heading an uncollected save past keeper Aly Cole.

Giddings tenacity cut the North Dakota deficit in half, 2-1, but the Bison went on the defensive and played keep away from UND, turning their possession into five second-half corner kicks.

The series will resume on Sunday, March 14, at Bronson Field with the Hawks and NDSU kicking off at 2 p.m.