GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Goals from Amelia Loeffler, Milan Cordone and Allison Rapaduski propelled the North Dakota soccer team to a 3-2 victory over Oral Roberts on Friday from Bronson Field. 

After notching only one goal through the first five games of league action, the Fighting Hawks exploded for a trio of tallies to record the most in a Summit League contest since a 3-2 win over Kansas City on Mar. 26, 2021. Sarah McCracken also notched her first-career multi-assist game, helping on the first two goals scored by the green and white.

The win also boosts NoDak up the Summit League standings, moving into a tie for the sixth-and-final postseason spot with five points. UND is also now just two points behind South Dakota for fourth with two matches remaining in the regular season.

Early on, both teams were stout defensively, but ORU broke through on its first shot of the contest to make it 1-0 in favor of the visitors in the eighth minute. About five minutes later, Rapaduski had her first scoring chance of the game on a ball that was played down the right side and placed in but her effort went high to the right. In the 28th minute, the Fighting Hawks finally hit pay dirt as McCracken lifted a ball from the right boundary into the box that Loeffler got her head on and sent into the back of the net to even the contest at 1-1. UND had two more shots on goal the rest of the half, but neither would find the twine as the teams went to intermission tied at one.

Just over five minutes into the second half, Cordone bagged her first goal of the season as she struck from the right side of the formation and slipped the ball past the keeper on the near side. McCracken picked up her second assist; with Paula Moreno Diaz picking up the secondary assist. Momentum stayed with NoDak, as less than ten minutes later Rapaduski scored on a great individual effort, streaking down the left side and then breaking into the middle of the formation and drove one to the far side over the hand of the keeper to make it 3-1.

 Oral Roberts was able to get one goal back in the 73rd minute, as Gabrielle Abbey converted on a penalty shot to make it 3-2, but from there the UND defense would hold and keep the Golden Eagles from getting an equalizer. Madi Livingston made a crucial save in the last three minutes of the game on an opportunity for ORU that she deflected onto the crossbar that was cleared to help the hosts hold on for the victory.

The final two matches of the season will be at St. Thomas next Thursday and October 22 at home against Denver on Senior Day.

Postgame Notes

• McCracken picked up her second and third career assists today, with her first coming against Western Illinois in 2022.
• The Fighting Hawks are now tied with Kansas City with five points in Summit League games for sixth place in the conference standings.
• Both teams had seven shots on goal, with UND making five saves to ORU's four.
• Alexis McPhail picked up her first career assist on Rapaduski's goal.
• Livingston, McPhail, Mary Gasaway, Loeffler and Alisha Maake all played the full 90 minutes.

How It Happened  
First Half 
8' | ORU - Kristi Keller from the middle of the box, assisted by Samantha See, ORU leads 1-0
28' | UND - Amelia Loeffler header into the right corner on a long pass from Sarah McCracken, game tied at 1-1

Second Half 
51' | UND - Milan Cordone from the right side of the goal near post, assisted by Sarah McCracken and Paula Moreno Diaz, UND leads 2-1
60' | UND - Allison Rapaduski on a breaking run from left to right, shot from outside the box, assisted by Alexis McPhail, UND leads 3-1
72' | ORU - Gabrielle Abbey on a penalty shot, UND leads 3-2