GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Three-different Fighting Hawks found the back of the net to help lead North Dakota past Northern State, 3-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Bronson Field in Grand Forks. 

A pair of strikes in the opening half from Hannah Olson and Olivia Valdiva pushed the hosts to a 2-0 lead at the break before Mara Yapello sealed the win with a tally in the second half to give UND (2-2-0) its first home victory of the season. 

North Dakota dominated possession throughout the match, holding the ball for nearly 60% of the action and limiting Northern State (1-1-0) to just a 15% possession rate inside the attacking third. That helped the Fighting Hawks control the shot totals, firing 18 towards target and holding the Wolves to just five.

Eight of those UND attempts found the target, led by all four of Valdivia's strikes. The backline was strong despite missing a few starters for the second straight game, allowing just one shot on goal to help Madi Livingston post her first shutout of the season and third of her career. 

After a bit of play in the midfield to open the game, the Fighting Hawks turned their first opportunity into a goal. A corner kick sent in by Julia Briggs found the head of Olson at the back post who deposited it into the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute on the first shot of the game.

The goal seemed the energize the green and white, firing five of the next six shots in the contest to consistently pressure the Wolves' defense. The pressure led to a second UND strike when Olson disrupted a pass that deflected over to Valdivia who rocketed into the twine to double the lead in the 34th minute. The junior nearly potted another pair in the final moments of the opening stanza, but the Hawks went into the halftime break with a 2-0 lead. 

Halftime did not slow the Hawks down, as the green and white continued to pressure and create chances in the opening moments of the second half. Yapello put the finishing touches on the victory when she settled a cross down from Bailey McNitt and placed into the top corner for her second goal of the season and a 3-0 lead in the 79th minute. 

Northern State came with some pressure in the final moments, earning four corners to just one for UND, but the defense and Livingston held strong to keep the clean sheet. 

North Dakota will hit the road for a border showdown with Minnesota on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Minneapolis. Fans can catch the game on BTN+.