Soccer - News

NO. 23 BULLDOGS FALL TO WINONA STATE ON THE ROAD, 2-0

Friday, October 2, 2009

The No. 23 University of Minnesota Duluth women’s soccer team hadn’t stepped on to Winona State University’s Maxwell Field in more than four years prior to Friday’s showdown with the Warriors.  Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they may have to wait a little longer to steal a victory there.

UMD let a close contest slip away midway through the second-half as Winona State upset the league-leading Bulldogs 2-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday.  After reeling off an unbeaten streak of seven games, UMD falls to 6-2-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC –- and a second place tie -- with the Warriors, who improve to 7-3 overall and 4-0 in the conference.

Despite outshooting WSU 10-6 in the opening 45 minutes, the Bulldogs and Warriors took a 0-0 stalemate into the second stanza.  The Warriors finally snuck on the board at 63:30 when Melissa Sellier sent a cross near the endline to the right of the UMD goal into the six yard box, which slipped through Bulldog goalkeeper Hannah Bengtson’s grasp.  The loose ball was knocked into the net by Sarah Colleran, and the eventual game-winner gave WSU a 1-0 lead.

A mere three minutes later, the Warriors unforgiving attack reaped the rewards of a 2-on-1 in UMD’s 18-yard box, and just like that, WSU had a two-goal lead on the Bulldogs.

“We knew the game would be challenging going in, being at Winona and playing at their place is always difficult,” said Bulldog head coach Greg Cane.  “Add on the fact that we are experiencing success, and it is a challenge for us to handle that success.  Overall I thought we played well, and we took some chances, but they got a break and they capitalized when it mattered most.”

The Bulldogs outshot the Warriors 18-10, including 8-4 in the second-half alone.  Bengtson made six saves, while her WSU counterpart Anna Belpedio made seven.  The shutout marks No. 6 for Belpedio, a league-high, while Bengtson is second in the NSIC with five.

UMD will head to Fayette, Iowa Sunday to face Upper Iowa University Sunday.  Game-time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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