FARGO, ND - North Dakota State built an early 2-0 lead and added some late insurance in a 3-1 win over the Jaguars at the rainy Ellig Sports Complex on Friday. NDSU's Nicole Rand had a goal and an assist in the victory.
IUPUI freshman MaryBeth McMillan provided a bright spot for the Jaguars, scoring her second collegiate goal in the game's 77th minute.
NDSU's Abbey Stratton made it 1-0 just 2:46 into the match when she drilled a free kick from just over 20 yards out after an ill advised IUPUI foul. Stratton lined the shot over the IUPUI defensive wall as it deflected off the crossbar on its way into the net.
In the 14th minute, Rand's diagonal pass set up Lorraine Thompson for her second goal of the season, giving the hosts all the offense they would need.
"We did not come to play," IUPUI head coach Chris Johnson said. "We were slow out of the gate and they wanted it more than we did.
"That was one of the first times this year I've seen a team be faster than us at both ends of the field. They're a fast, athletic team. Their midfielders in transition were the difference in the game."
IUPUI's (1-8-2, 0-2-0) offense didn't get going until the second half as McMillan broke up the shutout with just over 13 minutes left. Sophomore Leslie Walker worked up the left side of the goal before cutting a pass back to McMillan just beyond the six-yard box.
McMillan settled the pass before lining a shot past NDSU goalkeeper Monica Morgan.
Rand answered just over two minutes later by angling a shot past IUPUI reserve goalkeeper Maeghan Parks to cap the scoring. Parks, seeing her first career action in net, replaced starter Jamie Farrell in the 73rd minute with the score at 2-0.
Farrell made four saves while Parks had one.
"We wanted to rest Jamie, since we didn't have anything going at that point," Johnson said.
North Dakota State (7-4-0, 1-1-0) outshot IUPUI 19-9 although the Jags had four corner kicks to the host's two. Quin Ryan tried a game-high four shots off the bench.
The Jaguars will make the two hour trek to Brookings, SD on Saturday and will take on South Dakota State on Sunday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CST.
