Everything was going flawlessly for the University of Minnesota Duluth. Sophomore forward
Logan Nash rifled in her second goal of the season at 10:01 to give the Bulldogs the lead. UMD had possession of the ball for the majority of the game and out shot the University of Sioux Falls 25-12. The Bulldogs had under 10 minutes remaining until everything was flipped over on its axis.
UMD surrendered the lead with 9:06 to go off a set play that allowed the Cougars to set up a play after a foul. USF forward Lauren LaFavre lifted the ball over junior goalkeeper
Carlye Wright causing the game-tying goal. The Bulldogs and Cougars ended up with a 1-1 draw in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action after neither side could break the deadlock. With the draw, UMD (8-4-2, 5-4-2) remained locked on the eighth and final spot for the NSIC playoffs with four games remaining in the regular season. USF (4-7-3, 3-5-3 NSIC) is still five points from the Bulldogs and the final playoff spot. For the first time, the Cougars didn't drop a decision in six meetings.
Nash scored on one of the team's 12 shots in the first half set up on a beautiful counter attack. Sophomore midfielder
Nan Glinsek had her shot deflected and the Cougars started the march the other way. Junior defender
Natalie St. Martin and freshman defender
Jenna Eichten, who made her first collegiate start, pinched the Cougar assault and immediately stretched the counter play. St. Martin passed it back and Eichten rainbowed a volley to Nash who lobbed it over a defender and fired a missile into the net.
The Bulldog attack as been spread out across the board as Nash became the sixth player to register at least two goals. It was Eichten's first point of her Bulldog career. She is one of six UMD players to tally their first points at the college level this season.
Wright has yet to lose a game this season. In her three starts between the posts, Wright is 1-0-2 with three goals allowed. The UMD defense has been solid in front of Wright as they have allowed only 11 shots on goal in Wright's 310:00 minutes of action. Wright came out to challenge on the set piece and broke for the ball but the distance was too much to cover as LaFavre reached it first.
The Bulldogs, whom have three of their final four games away from Malosky Stadium, hit the road next weekend to play Augustana University and Wayne State College on Oct. 21-22. The first game of the weekend is on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. versus the Vikings.
