Sophomore defenseman Gwendolyn Lilly'a goal off a corner kick late in the second half sealed a season-opening win for the University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team Friday night at Kearly Stadium in Houghton, Mich. against Michigan Tech University. The goal pushed the Bulldogs past the Huskies 1-0, and doubled as UMD;s first win over MTU since the 2022 season.


Lily's goal -- the fourth of her young career -- came off a Bulldog corner kick at the 74:56 mark. Senior midfielder Miriam Marsan sent in the corner kick, and it was redirected up outside six-yard box by freshman forward Kennedy Christensen. Lilly tracked the redirect, and after she deflected the ball initially into Huskies goaltender Bri Barrows, Lilly's second effort header beat Barrows to put the Bulldogs on the board for the first time of the 2025 season. Kennedy was credited with an assist -- the first of the rookie's UMD career.


Senior goaltender Kaycee Chavez earned the shutout, her second as a Bulldog, on four saves. UMD outshot the Huskies 14-9 overall, but MTU owned a 3-1 advantage on corner kicks. 


The physical contest (UMD was called for 11 fouls, the Huskies four) was led in shots by junior Jessica Eischens, who had a game-high three shots and was the only Bulldog with multiple shots. Megan Antczak had two shots for MTU, while Barrows had seven saves for the Huskies, who fall to 0-1 on the season.


UMD (1-0) will travel to Marquette, Mich. Sunday to face another GLIAC foe in Northern Michigan University. Game-time for the match is scheduled for 11:00 a.m (CDT).


BULLDOG NOTES: The win puts long-time UMD head coach Greg Cane at 299 career wins over his 35 seasons in college soccer ... Cane is now at 299-243-65 over his entire coaching career, and 284-208-69 at UMD ... the Bulldogs earned their first season-opening win since August 25, 2022, a 2-1 triumph over MTU in Duluth ... UMD is now 3-6-1 all-time against the Huskies, and 2-2-1 in Houghton, Mich. against the home side ... Lilly, along with sophomore defender Kailey Tomzak, were the only two field players to play the full 90 minutes.