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UMD TAKES THRILLING HOME OPENER 3-2 ON MONDAY

Monday, September 7, 2009

Freshman forward Leah Kramer delivered the difference maker for the Bulldogs on Monday

Credit: Lila Stevens

No member of the 2009 University of Minnesota Duluth soccer roster had ever tasted victory against Northern Michigan University going into the teams' Labor Day meeting. That changed Monday as the Bulldogs got their first win in nearly four years against the Wildcats, winning the 2009 home opener 3-2 in exciting fashion.

UMD (which moves to 1-1 on the year) notched its first victory versus NMU (2-2) since Sept. 10, 2005, a 3-1 showing also at James S. Malosky Stadium.

The Bulldogs pressed offensively early and often against their non-conference nemesis, with junior midfielder/forward Lauren Graydon finally cashing in at the 17:56 mark. The Thunder Bay, ONT., native took a pass from fellow junior, forward Becky Anderson, and booted a strike from 20 yards out over Wildcat goalkeeper Kara Music's outstretched hand, giving UMD the early 1-0 advantage.

NMU's chances continued to be limited over the remainder of the first half, but it was able to blank the Bulldogs, as well, and the two squads entered the break with the scoreboard still showing UMD's one-goal advantage.

Just over six minutes after the opening whistle of the second half, the Wildcats evened the score at a goal a piece, thanks to forward Amelia Johnson's goal. NMU defender Becky Schmidt corralled a loose ball in front of Bulldog junior net minder Hannah Bengtson, and fed Johnson for an easy score. Defender Joanna Kiilunen was also credited with an assist.

UMD wasted little time in responding, with senior midfielder/forward Clare Dahmen answering back at 57:15. Rookie midfielder/defender Ashley Brown advanced the ball to her team co-captain, Dahmen made one move to run past Music 30 yards out, and guided the ball into the vacant net for her first goal on the 2009 season and number 11 in her time as a Bulldog.

The visitors knotted the score back up 71:36 into the match, when forward Ashley DeKeyser floated a ball over Bengtson and into the UMD net. Forwards Amelia Johnson and Brittany Buckingham got the helpers on the goal that saw Bengtson, a Lino Lakes, Minn., native, stray just a bit too far from her goal line.

Freshman forward Leah Kramer made the momentary lapse obsolete, however, playing the part of hero at the 76:11 mark. The native of Chanhassen, Minn., delivered a perfectly-placed shot just out of the reach of the Wildcat goalie, from the top of the goal box, and into the upper right-hand corner of the net. Junior transfer midfielder/defender Cassie Shepherd threaded a tight pass to Kramer's foot; junior forward Whitney Wilson was also credited with an assist.

The Bulldogs were able to put the clamps down on the NMU offense the rest of the way, with things getting a bit chippy late - UMD sophomore defender Reegan Lloyd drew a yellow card in the 88th minute for unsportsmanlike behavior.

"Any time you win a home-opener is great," said UMD head coach Greg Cane. "Things didn't really go our way in the second half, but we got ourselves out of trouble twice, which says a lot."

Finishing up the non-conference portion of the 2009 schedule is next up for the Bulldogs, who will do so next weekend against some familiar opponents. UMD will travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., competing in the NSIC Soccer Festival, which is hosted by Augustana College. The Bulldogs will first take to the pitch against St. Cloud State University next Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon, then squaring off against Southwest Minnesota State University following day, at 1 p.m.

Game Box Score

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