Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth will return home still searching for its first victory of the season as the University of Central Missouri edged UMD 2-0 in Warrensburg, Missouri on Sunday afternoon.
The eight-ranked Bulldogs fall to 0-2 in non-conference play to begin the season while the Jennies move to 2-0. UMD will have one last non-conference regional match-up before diving into another tough Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season.
HIGHLIGHTS• Central Missouri scored once early and once late, but it was enough to hold off the Bulldogs. Freshman Mikala Modiri put the Jennies on top in the fourth minute, headed to her by sophomore Hannah Pyle. Pyle, a 20-goal scorer in 2013, netted the clincher in the 75th minute thanks to Midori.
• Senior goalkeeper
Marissa Rosa started between the pipes for UMD, making four saves in her first start of the season.
• Senior forward
Maureen Stormont was held without a shot for the first time since last September 8 at North Dakota State, as UCM keyed their defense on stopping the 2014 NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
• Junior forward
Sheridan Reiners and sophomore midfielder
Marissa Ganske each had a pair of shots on-net for the Bulldogs, with Ganske leading the way with four shots overall.
UMD put the pressure on to start the match, with UCM neededing a defender to clear a shot by Reiners out of the box in the third minute. The Jennies turned the momentum around and scored on their opening shot of the game as Modiri netted her first of season, flicking a Pyle header out of the reach of the UMD 'keeper. The Bulldogs returned with a flurry followed a
Hannah Keil (Sr./M) corner kick in the 23rd minute with four shots, including three on-net by Ganske and Reiners - the best opportunity for UMD in the opening frame.
The Bulldogs put the pressure on early in the second half, with four corner kicks in the first five minutes, but had just one opportunity as senior defender
Riley Allen had a header cleared out by a Jennie defender. After a series of substitutions, Pyle was able to isolate herself on the left side, drilling a one-time pass from Midori into the corner of the net, her first of the season. UMD would get a few more chances in the closing fifteen, including Ganske's final shot, which sailed just wide, but ultimately were held off by the tough Central Missouri defense.
UP NEXTThe Bulldogs will be back on the road next weekend as they continue the annual rivalry with Northern Michigan University in Marquette at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. UMD will open its home season and NSIC play next Sunday against St. Cloud State University.
