GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota soccer team concluded the 2023 season with a 3-3 tie against Denver on Sunday afternoon from Bronson Field in Grand Forks, N.D. 

UND closes out the season with a 5-7-6 overall mark and a 1-3-4 conference record to finish seventh in the Summit League standings with seven points, just missing the postseason by two points behind Kansas City. 

Amelia Loeffler capped off her sophomore campaign in style, notching a trio of goals for her first-career hat trick to help the Fighting Hawks record their first result against the Pioneers in eight tries. The sophomore also tallied the first three-goal game by a UND player since Mimi Eiden against Minot State on Sept. 10, 2019 and the first against a Division I opponent since Katie Moller had four strikes against Purdue Fort Wayne on Oct. 21, 2018. 

Denver jumped out to a 1-0 less than 10 minutes into the game, but UND responded right away when Irene Jirasevijina intercepted a pass in the midfield and found Loeffler who blasted a shot from distance past the keeper to quickly knot the game at 1-1 in the 23rd minute. 

NoDak kept up the pressure as the first half wore on, with Allison Rapaduski earning a penalty kick after being hauled down in the box following a dangerous cross in the 34th minute. Loeffler stepped up and made no mistake on the PK to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead. The Pios answered back just a minute later, as a corner kick deflected off a UND defender and into the net for an own goal to send the teams to the locker room tied at 2-2. 

It was Denver who came out aggressive to begin the second half, grabbing the lead back at 3-2 on a tally just over three minutes into the stanza, but goalkeeper Madi Livingston and the UND defense kept the deficit at just a goal despite the 12 shot attempts from the visitors in the final 45. 

With time ticking down, UND was able to earn a corner and Rapaduski curled a perfect ball into the box for Loeffler to head into the top half of the net for her third goal of the game and knotting the game at 3-3 in the final minute. 

North Dakota pressed in the dying seconds for a winner, but could not find another late goal and settled for a 3-3 tie. 

Postgame Notes 

• UND improves to 0-7-1 against Denver in program history
• Loeffler recorded the first hat trick of her career and first by a UND player since 2019
• Denver finished with a 20-8 shot advantage 
• Shots on goal were 9-4 in favor of the Pios
• Madi Livingston finished with six saves on nine attempts
• DU was booked for one yellow card while UND was not booked
• Corner kicks were 6-3 in favor of DU
• UND ends the season with a 5-7-6 overall record

How It Happened  
First Half 
10' | DU - Liv Mortiz finishes off a nice passing play to make it 1-0 DU 
23' | UND - Amelia Loeffler scores her first with a shot from distance to tie the game at 1-1
34' | UND - Loeffler puts home the PK to give the Hawks a 2-1 advantage 
35' | DU - OWN GOAL

Second Half 
49' | DU - Kaitlyn Glover restores DU's lead early in the second half 
90' | UND - Loeffler completes the hat trick on a corner kick from Allison Rapaduski 

For more information on North Dakota soccer, follow on social media @UNDsoccer or visit FightingHawks.com.