Two years ago, the University of Minnesota Duluth did the unthinkable and upset Augustana University in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament as the seventh seed. Today, the Bulldogs almost became the second team in history to pull off the upset as an eighth seed in the tournament. No. 21 Minnesota State University, Mankato was pushed to the limit but survived a post-Halloween scare from UMD in the opening round of the 2017 NSIC Tournament. The Mavericks fell behind but scored the equalizer in the second half. Neither team could break the 1-1 tie in overtime. The Mavs then needed penalty kicks to the ninth round to finally put away the Bulldogs.

All started well for the Bulldogs. Senior forward Hailey Hoff gave UMD the lead at the 32:34 mark on a redirection. Senior defender Anna Morrison passed the ball to junior defender Lizzy Fontes who directed a shot 30 yards away. Hoff saw the shot and just got enough on it to deflect it past Maverick goalkeeper Taylor Livermore. Hoff scored her first goal of the season at the most opportune time as the Bulldogs needed to jump out to the early lead and seize advantage of the match. The Bulldogs, who came into today's game 9-0-2 when leading at the half, took a 1-0 lead heading into halftime and held a 3-2 lead on shots on goal. 

Molly Sarafolean scored in the 69th minute for the Mavericks to knot things at 1-1. Sarafolean was at the right place at the right time. Her right-footed shot found the back of the net on a rebound after junior Sisley Ng saved a shot by Mavericks' Taylor Kenealy. The UMD defense, despite allowing the goal, kept them in the game. The starting defense consisting of freshman Jenna Eichten, senior Emily Fleissner, junior Erika Hjort and senior Anna Morrison with the help of junior Lizzy Fontes, Holly Kaboord and sophomore Mikayla Iaquinto at times along the backline closed off 17 of the Mavericks 29 shot attempts from reaching the net. Ng was fantastic between the pipes as she saved all 11 shots she could get her body on. Those 11 saves tied a career best for Ng, who had 11 saves against Bemidji State University last Saturday.

Ng also had at the time the biggest save of the match in the shootout. Minnesota State Mankato was a perfect 4-4 and Bri Ciaccio was sent in for the game-winning PK. Ng stretched all five-foot-three-inches out to the left and stopped Ciaccio's attempt. UMD tied it up and went to the ninth round before the final PK sailed above the crossbar signaling the end of the season. Junior midfielder Madison Carey, junior midfielder Laura Edgren, Kaboord, Fleissner, Morrison, freshman Gabby Bland and Ng all converted on their PK attempts. The Mavericks switched to their lengthier goalkeeper Ryann Rydeen for the shootout session and made one stop on two Bulldog misses.

Junior Natalie St. Martin was one shot from getting behind the keeper from sending UMD to the next round in the second overtime. St. Martin got pass the Maverick defense which has allowed only seven goals all season and posted 14 shutouts. She received a through ball and Livermore came out to challenge her all alone. St. Martin ripped a blast and Livermore made a jaw-dropping save and managed to hold on to the ball not allowing St. Martin to clean up for an easy goal.

UMD would go on to be outshot 29-12 and 12-8 in shots on goal. Minnesota State had the only three corner kicks of the match. Minnesota State Mankato (15-2-2) moves on to host the remaining portion of the NSIC Tournament and take on the winner of the University of Mary and Minot State. The Bulldogs (10-5-4) end their 2017 campaign season in heartbreaking fashion on PKs to the Mavericks. UMD dropped the 2013 NSIC Championship game in equivalent fashion, losing 3-2 in PKs after a 2-2 tie.