MITCHELL, S.D. – On a windy day at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team kicked off the 2015 regular season against Northern State University.
The Tigers stayed with the NCAA Division II Wolves throughout regulation, pushing the game to overtime tied at zero. NSU broke through in the 96th minute with a goal to capture the win on Sunday in Mitchell, S.D.
After 90 hard-fought minutes and quality defense from DWU, the Wolves capitalized on a break when a shot from NSU's Anna Bondy deflected off a DWU defender to an open Kay Hernandez, who calmly put the ball past Tiger keeper Kira Miller (Preston, Idaho).
The Wolves outshot the Tigers 10-3 in the first half and 17-8 in the game. The Tiger defense, led by Miller, kept the home team in even with NSU. Miller finished with 14 saves in the game, her debut with the Tigers after transferring as a junior prior to the season from Western Wyoming Community College.
Several freshmen also made their debut for DWU, including Gemini Wesley (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who led the Tigers with three shots on net. Senior Maranda Ehrenfried (Pierre, S.D.) and freshman Brittany Forsman (Sioux Falls, S.D.) each added two shots on net in the loss.
NSU goalkeeper Stacey Cavill made two saves in the shutout win for the Wolves.
The Tigers will continue to see NCAA Division II competition when the University of Sioux Falls comes to town. DWU and USF will face off at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex.
