There was most definitely a feeling in the air from the opening kick that the University of Minnesota Duluth [2-3-0 (1-1 NCC)] had this one in the bag. When the final seconds ticked off of the clock in the Bulldog's 2-0 win over the University of North Dakota [5-2-0 (0-1 NCC)], the scoreboard made it an irrefutable fact.

UMD controlled the tempo of the entire game, making the Sioux play at a pace that threw them out of their comfort zones. It didn't get any easier for North Dakota when, just 11:41 into the game, senior Heather Cutter turned two timely passes from sophomores Clare Dahmen and Sammy Case into a scoring strike. Cutter's second goal of the year skimmed off of a UND defender as it cruised past goalkeeper Lauren Sera and into the twine.

\"After the first goal, we put ourselves in a good position and made it tough for them to keep up with us,\" head coach Greg Cane. \"We had dangerous chances and possessed the ball nicely in the first 25 minutes and I was happy to see us convert.\"

The game was put to bed when two of UMD's sophomore transfers connected at the 38:35 mark. Brittany Lyons was able to head a corner kick from senior Laura Mayerle down in front of the UND goal. Alex Paffrath was able to come up with the ball and had to practically fight and will it into the back of the net. The goal was her first as a Bulldog and the assists for Mayerle and Lyons were number one and two on the season, respectively.

\"Our plan coming in was to play a full, 90 minute game,\" coach Cane said. \"We wanted to give more people a chance to play and I thought they did well today.\"

Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Lukanich and the rest of the UMD defensive corps were able to come up with their second shutout in the last three games; Lukanich had to make two stops in her second career start.

The Bulldogs end their three-game home stand with a 2-1 record to show for it. They will next be in action September 21 when they travel to Vermillion, S.D. to take on the Coyotes from the University of South Dakota. The match time is slated for 2 p.m.