GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota soccer team fell, 3-2, to Boise State on Sunday afternoon to close out the opening weekend of the regular season from Bronson Field in Grand Forks, N.D. 

UND (0-2-0) trailed 3-0 at the halftime break after the Broncos (1-0-1) struck for a trio of goals in a 2:40 span, but the hosts rallied back with two strikes in a 2:49 stretch of their own to pull back within a goal. The Fighting Hawks nearly found the equalizer on multiple occasions in the final half, but Boise State held on for the 3-2 victory. 

Allison Rapaduski notched her second goal of her career and first since Aug. 28, 2021 at Southern and Sarah McCracken struck for the third time of her career, while Evelyn Pazienza and Kaylie Fowler each notched their first collegiate points with assists. 

It was a similar story to Thursday's contest against Montana, with the visitors establishing some possession and the better chances in the early going. The NoDak defense held strong in the opening 25 minutes of the first half, but Boise State finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the 27th minute on a goal from Kenzie MacMillian to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. 

Just 36 seconds later, BSU doubled its lead on a nice passing play from Morgan Stone to Carly Cross before stretching the lead to 3-0 on MacMillian's second of the contest to complete a three-goal barrage in 2:40 and take a 3-0 lead into the halftime break. 

North Dakota started to chip away at the deficit as the second began, striking just 1:55 into the stanza to cut the BSU lead to 3-1. After Fowler found Pazienza with a through ball, the Louisville transfer sent one off the hands of the goalkeeper and Rapaduski cashed in the rebound for the first goal of the season for the Fighting Hawks. 

After scoring six goals off set pieces last season, it took UND all of just two matches to find its first of 2023 with McCracken getting her head on a Paula Moreno Diaz corner to pull the Hawks within a goal, 3-2, in the 50th minute. 

UND nearly found the equalizer in the final minutes following another corner kick, but Mary Gasaway's attempt was just off the target to give the Broncos a 3-2 win. 

North Dakota remains home to battle Minnesota State Moorhead on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. from Bronson Field. 

Postgame Notes 

• Boise State leads the season series, 3-0-0
• Rapaduski scored her first goal since Aug. 28, 2021 at Southern 
• McCracken notched her first goal of the season and third of her career
• Pazienza and Fowler each recorded their first points in UND uniforms with assists
• Boise State finished with an 18-12 shot advantage, including an 8-6 on-target lead
• UND notched five corner kicks to just two for Boise State
• Madi Livingston recorded five saves on eight shots against 
• Rapaduski led all UND players with three shots 

How It Happened  
First Half 
27' | BSU - Kenzie MacMillian opens the scoring to give Boise State a 1-0 lead
28' | BSU - Carly Cross extends the advantage to 2-0 just 36 seconds later 
30' | BSU - MacMillian notches her second goal of the game on her own rebound to make it 3-0

Second Half 
47' | UND - Allison Rapaduski cashes in on a loose ball in the box to cut the deficit to 3-1
50' | UND - Sarah McCracken heads a perfect corner from Paula Moreno Diaz to make it 3-2 

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