OMAHA, Neb. – The North Dakota State women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Omaha Sunday afternoon in Summit League play.
After the Bison (4-5-3, 0-2-0 Summit League) had just leveled the game minutes before, Omaha (2-6-3, 1-0-1 Summit League) found the game winner on a quick break with seven seconds left, as Sophia Green's shot was too strong for
Abby Wilkinson, who got a hand on the ball, but could not push the shot wide.
Omaha took the lead in the 20
th minute, as Cece Behrens scored in an opportunistic fashion. Omaha played the ball in from the right wing to Meg Nemnich, who then fired a shot past a diving Wilkinson. However, the shot hit off the left post and then bounced out directly to Behrens, who tapped it in to put the Mavericks in front.
The Bison nearly had an equalizer just minutes later, as
Olivia Watson rang the woodwork from the top of the box. A long ball into the penalty area bounced back to the top of the box, where Watson struck it on her first touch but the shot was just high.
NDSU would have the better chances throughout the second half, with several close misses, but it wasn't until the 85
th minute that NDSU would find the equalizer. A free kick from
Ashleigh Heely was eventually settled by
Paige Goaley in the box, and played it on to
Kelsey Kallio, who fired it inside the far post to level the scoring at 1-1.
It was the second goal of the season for Kallio and the second assist for Goaley. Both players have two goals and two assists on the season, tied for the team lead.
The Bison will return home to Dacotah Field for the first home games in Summit League play, as North Dakota State welcomes in St. Thomas and Western Illinois on Homecoming Weekend. The Bison will take on St. Thomas on Friday to close out the month of September with a 6 p.m. kick. NDSU will then take on Western Illinois on Sunday, October 2 at 1 p.m.