The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team opened up their 2024-25 season tonight at James S. Malosky stadium, falling in a hard-fought 6-1 loss to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

First Half: UMD (0) - NMU (5)

The Wildcats turned on the heat early in this evening's matchup, scoring three goals throughout the first fifteen minutes of the match. Another pair of NMU goals at the 20:03 mark and the 30:35 mark would would trigger a Bulldog substitution at 34:51 to bring freshman Gwendolyn Lilly for the first time in her college career, would would help motivate the offense and participate in logging UMD's first two shots on goal of the night. Despite some late half offensive energy and a pair of defensive saves from junior goalkeeper Kaycee Chavez, the Bulldogs would go into the second half at a deficit of five goals.

Second Half: UMD (1) - NMU (6)

The Bulldogs would put up a stable defensive front through the opening minutes of the second half, but it would eventually be broken by another NMU goal at the 56:16 to make the UMD deficit 6-0. As the Bulldogs continued to fight back, cycling substitutions to bring in freshly rested players, junior Maria Zanotti would check back in at the 77:41 mark. A string of throw-ins for the Bulldogs would set up an advantageous position for Zanotti up the middle to lob a shot over the NMU goalkeeper's head and knock in the Bulldog's first goal of the season and her first career goal at UMD. The Bulldogs however would not be able to carry the momentum through to the end and fall in their season and home opener 6-1 against the reigning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) champions.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog Soccer will be back out at James S. Malosky Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, for their annual alumni day. UMD is set to take on the Michigan Tech Huskies at 1:00 PM.