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Complete NDSU Game Notes
Aug. 31 vs. UNC  Watch  |  Live Stats
Sept. 2 vs. Drake  Watch  |  Live Stats
 
Scene Setter
     North Dakota State soccer (1-0-0) will host two matches this weekend at Dacotah Field on campus. The Bison play Northern Colorado (1-2-0) on Friday, Aug. 31, at 5 p.m., then host Drake (1-3-0) on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. Friday's match with Northern Colorado has become the regular season home opener for the Bison, after the Aug. 26 game vs. Weber State was canceled due to inclement weather.
 
Series History
     Friday's match will be the 14th meeting all-time between the Bison and Bears, with Northern Colorado leading the series 8-5-0. UNC defeated the Bison 2-0 on Sept. 8 last season.
     Sunday's match will mark the 11th meeting in the all-time series between NDSU and Drake. Drake leads the series, 7-2-1, after defeating the Bison in Des Moines last season, 2-0.
 
North Dakota State Notes

• The Bison remain 1-0-0 entering the weekend after rolling to a 4-1 victory at Green Bay in their 2018 regular season opener on Aug. 19. NDSU has had two of its first three matches this season canceled due to weather.
• The season-opening win marked the first NDSU victory in a season opener since 2014, when the Bison claimed a 1-0 win over North Dakota.
• The four goals at Green Bay were the most NDSU goals in a season opener since the Bison netted four goals in a 4-3 triumph over UND in the 2010 season opener.
• North Dakota State received eight votes in the first United Soccer Coaches regular season poll released Tuesday, Aug. 21. The Bison were the only Summit League school to receive votes.
• Through one match, Holly Enderle, Hanna Norman, Mariah Haberle and Marian Taiwo have each scored a goal, while Roxy Roemer has dished out a team-high two assists. Haberle has a team-best three points after netting a goal and tallying an assist at Green Bay.
• The Bison rank third in The Summit League with a plus-3 goal differential this season.
• North Dakota State returns 90 percent of its scoring from last season.
• The Bison welcome back 10 starters, including three all-league honorees in Malley O'Brien (first team), Hanna Norman (second team) and Danielle Algera (freshmen team), and goalkeeper Monica Polgar, who ranked second in The Summit League with six shutouts.
• NDSU has seven newcomers entering 2018, including six freshmen and one transfer. The freshmen are Aly Cole (GK), Claire Grazzini (GK), DeAnna LeMire (MF), Lauryn Roszak (MF), Sydney Johnson (F) and Dani Stuber (D), while the transfer is Lauren Featherstone (RFr., D/MF, Central Connecticut State). 

 
About Northern Colorado

• The Northern Colorado Bears enter the weekend with an overall record of 1-2-0, losing to Colorado State and Colorado College, but claiming a 3-1 victory over Air Force.
• Northern Colorado's top returning offensive threat is senior Mariel Gutierrez, who racked up nine goals and six assists last season, firing 57 shots and 28 shots on goal. This year, senior Maddie Roberts leads UNC with two goals through three games.
• Last season, the Bears went 13-7-2 overall and finished third in the Big Sky Conference at 5-3-2. UNC advanced to the finals of the Big Sky Tournament before falling to Eastern Washington, 3-0.
• The Bears are starting a freshman in goal this season -- 5-foot-10 San Diego native Taylor Washington, who has allowed three goals in three games.
• Northern Colorado was picked to finish second in the Big Sky preseason poll behind Eastern Washington.

 
About Drake

• The Drake Bulldogs are 1-3-0 this season, losing to San Francisco, Kansas State and South Dakota State, but winning 2-1 over Fresno State on Aug. 19. Drake plays at UMKC on Friday night before traveling to Fargo.
• Freshman forward Alison Walls leads Drake with one goal, seven shots, and four shots on goal this season.
• Last season, the Bulldogs went 13-4-2 overall and claimed the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title with a 6-0-1 league record.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsie Stone has allowed five goals in four games this season, making 23 saves.
• Drake was picked to finish fourth in the eight-team Missouri Valley Conference.

 
Radio, TV Coverage Announced for NDSU Women's Soccer
     Two NDSU women's soccer matches will air live on the radio, and one match will be televised live during the upcoming season. NDSU's Summit League home matches against Denver (Oct. 4) and South Dakota State (Oct. 14) will air live on Bison 1660 AM and 92.7 FM with Keith Brake providing play-by-play, while NDSU's home match against SDSU on Oct. 14 will be televised live on MidcoSN with Alex Heinert calling the action.
 
On the Horizon
     The Bison will travel to take on Minnesota on Friday, Sept. 7, before hosting Northern Iowa at Dacotah Field on Sunday, Sept. 9.