Bison Top Utah Tech 2-0 For First Win of Season

ST. PAUL, MInn. – Olivia Watson and Kelsey Kallio scored to lead the North Dakota State women’s soccer team to its first victory of the season on Saturday, as the Bison defeated Utah Tech 2-0 in the St. Thomas Women’s Soccer Invitational at South Field on the campus of the University of St. Thomas.

Watson broke the tie in the 33^rd minute and gave the Bison (1-0-2) the lead as she connected on a pass from Paige Goaley and finessed a shot past Utah Tech (0-2-0) goalkeeper Kayla Gonzales from inside the right half of the penalty area. It was Watson’s first goal of the season and third of her career.

The Bison would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the half, with freshman goalkeeper Payton Mulberry making one save in the opening 45 minutes to protect the 1-0 lead.

Kallio would double the lead in the 58^th minute, as she knocked in a cross at the back post for her first goal since April of 2021. McKenna Strand crossed the ball in from the right wing, where it was flicked on by Alicia Nest to Kallio at the back post, who tapped it in for her second career goal.

Mulberry, who made her first collegiate start in the game, was called into action for three more stops in the second half as she made four saves overall for her first cleansheet.

The Bison picked up their second-consecutive shutout, following Sofia Howe’s against Southern last week. It’s the first back-to-back cleansheet performance for the Bison defense since February of 2021. Overall, NDSU’s defensive scoreless streak extends to over 200 minutes at 200:20.

The win for the Bison was also redemption, answering a 3-0 loss to Utah Tech (formerly Dixie State) last season in the only other meeting between the two sides.

The Bison also improved to 3-0-1 all time in neutral-site games in the Twin Cities and 2-0 on South Field.

NDSU will be back in action against Chicago State to wrap up the St. Thomas Women’s Soccer Invitational on Monday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm. At South Field.