Bison Knock Off League-Leading Western Illinois, 2-1

FARGO, N.D. -- Jordyn Wallenborn and Steph Jacobson scored first-half goals to help the North Dakota State women's soccer team defeat league-leading Western Illinois 2-1 on Friday afternoon at the Ellig Sports Complex. With the victory, the Bison improved their home record to a perfect 3-0.

Western Illinois entered the game in a tie with Oakland for first place in The Summit League at 3-0.

In the 23rd minute, NDSU sophomore Anisha Kinnarath created a chance up the right side into a stiff wind. She crossed the ball to Wallenborn, who connected on a header and scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

Three minutes later, junior Steph Jacobson uncorked a shot from near the top of the box that was blocked, but she fired off a second attempt that found the back of the net. With 64 minutes to play, the Bison led 2-0.

Western Illinois' Jordan Walgren slipped a shot past Bison goalkeeper Sierra Bonham for a goal in the 51st minute, but the Leathernecks would never find the equalizer. One final WIU shot attempt rolled wide left in the game's final 30 seconds.

Western Illinois (11-3, 3-1 Summit) matched NDSU with 14 total shots in the contest, but the Bison tallied 10 shots on goal compared to only five for the Leathernecks. WIU held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks.

"One of the things we did well today was we battled hard," said NDSU head coach Mark Cook. "We talk about getting results. It doesn't have to be pretty - and today's game was pretty ugly with the wind - but we got a win, and that's what we needed right now."

North Dakota State (5-8, 2-2 Summit) was able to score two goals against a Western Illinois squad that had only surrendered six goals in 13 matches this season. On offense, the Leathernecks were averaging 2.7 goals per game entering today.

Kinnarath put four shots on goal to go along with her assist on Wallenborn's score. Bonham registered four saves for the Bison.

All three goals were scored going into a stiff wind at the south end of the field, with the Bison having the wind at their backs for the final 45 minutes.

North Dakota State will play the second game of a four-game homestand this Sunday, Oct. 14, when it hosts IUPUI. Game time is set for noon at the Ellig Sports Complex.