Bison Hold Off Creighton in Second Half for 1-1 Tie in Exhibition Soccer

BLAINE, Minn. - Brooklyn Dyce scored less than six minutes into the game and North Dakota State withstood steady pressure in the second half to tie Creighton 1-1 in a college women's soccer exhibition Saturday, Aug. 11, at the National Sports Center.

It was the only preseason exhibition game for North Dakota State, which has completed one week of workouts and opens its regular season next Friday, Aug. 17, against Idaho State at the Boise State Holiday Inn Classic.

"We wanted to make sure we were organized defensively," said NDSU first-year head coach Mark Cook.  "We knew we would have to absorb some pressure.  And we got a good early goal on the set play."

Creighton nearly tied the game six minutes after Dyce's score when Bonham punched away a shot from Alyssa Jara that was ticketed for the corner of the goal.

The Bluejays scored the equalizer in the 61st minute.  Lauren Cingoranelli found Kelsey O'Donnell open inside the penalty box right of the goal, and O'Donnell's shot over McCormick deflected in off the left goal post.

McCormick preserved the tie with a leaping save in the 78th minute when she deflected Alissa Kohmetscher's header from 8 yards out off the crossbar and out of play.

Creighton finished with a 14-4 advantage in total shots and NDSU had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks, all in the first half.  Katie Jo Swanson played all 90 minutes in goal for the Bluejays with two saves.