JACKSON, Miss. -- The University of North Dakota soccer team kept its winning ways going on Friday afternoon, rolling to a 5-0 win at Jackson State from JSU Soccer Field in Jackson, Miss.
The win improves the Fighting Hawks to a perfect 5-0-0 on the season and a 3-0-0 start on the road for the first time since the 2005 squad. UND also once again kept up its torrid offensive attack, striking for five goals to mark the fifth straight game scoring at least three goals.
It was another balanced offensive attack with five-different goal scorers finding the back of the net in the win.
Brynn Belcher paced the way with a goal and an assist for three points while
Cora Ellermann made it back-to-back games with multiple assists with a duo of helpers in the second half.
Grace Miller was also strong between the pipes once again, finishing with six saves on six shot attempts in just under 83 minutes of action.
Sydney Bakritzes played the final 7:07 of the contest and did not see a shot to help the goaltenders notch a combined shutout for the second time this season.
After a slow start in Sunday's contest against Jamestown, UND got going quickly on Friday as
Amelia Loeffler finished off a pretty passing play from
Charlie Basinet and Belcher to give the Fighting Hawks a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Just a few minutes later, Yui Fuji curled in a free kick from distance for her second goal of the season to double the lead for the visitors to 2-0.
Belcher made a play again in the 27th minute, crashing the net and depositing home a rebound off a
Paula Moreno Diaz free kick for her first goal of the season to send the green and white into the locker room with a 3-0 halftime advantage.
Jackson State made a push in the opening moments of the second half, earning a penalty kick following a handball in the box, but Miller was up to the task with a diving save to preserve the 3-0 lead and the shutout in the 59th minute. The saved PK turned the momentum right back to the visitors, as Ellermann connected with
Carly Brimhall on a corner kick for the junior's first goal in a UND uniform just seconds after the Miller save to increase the lead to 4-0.
Natalie Enderle put the finishing touches on the win, striking a shot from distance in the 80th minute for her second goal of the season to seal the 5-0 victory and the perfect start.
North Dakota will close out the weekend on Sunday evening against Nicholls at 6 p.m. in Thibodaux, La.
Postgame Notes
- UND improves to 5-0-0 for the first time since the 2005 season
- The Hawks are also 3-0-0 on the road for the first time since 2005
- NoDak is now 1-0-0 all-time against Jackson State
- Charlie Basinet had an assist to extend her point streak to six straight games
- Cora Ellermann dished out two assists for her second straight game with multiple assists
- Grace Miller finished with six saves to extend her scoreless streak to 339:46 to begin the season
- Shots were 19-9 UND, including an 11-6 advantage on-goal
- UND attempted 5 corner kicks to just 1 for Jackson State
How It Happened
First Half
14:21 | UND -
Amelia Loeffler (3) from
Charlie Basinet (3) and
Brynn Belcher (2)
18:16 | UND - Yui Fuji (2)
26:06 | UND - Belcher (1)
Second Half
59:53 | UND -
Carly Brimhall (1) from
Cora Ellermann (4)
79:08 | UND -
Natalie Enderle (2) from Ellermann (5)
For more information on North Dakota soccer, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDsoccer.