FARGO, N.D. ? Sophomore Ashley Dement scored twice for North Dakota State, and sophomore goalkeeper Monica Morgan made 11 saves to lead the Bison to a 2-1 victory over Northern Iowa at the Ellig Sports Complex on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Dement got NDSU (2-0-0) on the board early as she took a feed from senior Michelle Martinez at the top of the goal box and fired the shot past Panther goalkeeper Heidi O'Mara in the fourth minute of the contest. 

In the 19th minute, Dement struck again lobbing a shot over the head of O'Mara to give the Bison a 2-0 lead.  Freshman Marissa Wolfgram was credited with the assist, giving her the first point of her NDSU career.

Northern Iowa (0-1-1) would answer back in the 37th minute as freshman Chelsie Hochstedler sent one to the far corner of the net just beyond the reach of Morgan to trim the Bison lead to 2-1.  That score would ultimately hold up as the final, as both teams had a number of opportunities in the second half but were unable to convert.

It was the first multi-goal game for Dement, as the sophomore extends her career goal total to five and her point total to 16.  With the 11 saves in the contest, Morgan set a new career-high, breaking her previous best of eight against Iowa State last season.  The sophomore also improved her career win-loss record to 14-7-1.

Northern Iowa outshot the Bison 18-12 in the contest, including a 10-4 advantage in the first half.  But North Dakota State was able to match the intensity of the Panthers, something head coach Pete Cuadrado feels will pay off as the season progresses.

"This was a good test for them, to be ahead by a goal against a Division I team and have to fight to earn the victory," said Cuadrado.  "I think we got a lot of the rust of the first game off.  Now we just have to clean things up and keep doing what we're doing."

The Bison will have some time off before resuming its five game homestand this weekend.  In-state opponent Mary will visit the Ellig Sports Complex on Friday, Sept. 7, for a 4 p.m. meeting with North Dakota State.  NDSU will then host its first ever Summit League contest against defending tournament champion Oakland on Sunday, Sept. 9.  That match will be a 12 p.m. start.