MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois (6-7, 0-4) lost its fourth consecutive game on Sunday afternoon to North Dakota State (11-2-1, 4-0) at MacKenzie Alumni Field, 4-0.
"They are good team and they know it and we knew it," said assistant coach Mariana Sanchez. "That is why we always play so aggressively against them. We came out and played really hard but in the end North Dakota State has a great program."
The visiting Bison scored two goals within the first 10 minutes of the match to jump out to an early comfortable lead.
Michelle Gaffaney found the back of the net after she headed in an Abbey Moenkedick set piece at 5:54.
Danielle Boldenow hooked up with Brooklyn Dice at 6:57 on an impressive give-and-go to collect the team's second goal of the match
The teams went into halftime with NDSU leading 20-7 in shots including forcing seven first half saves for Victoria Kappel.
Boldenow collected her second goal of the afternoon as Dyce found her again, this time on a fast break at 61:12.
Aubrey Bot secured a loose ball at 25 yards and turned and fired a shot on goal and found the top-shelf to extend NDSU's lead to 4-0.
Western played a person down the final 20 minutes as Kristin Becker received a red card at 71:03 as she prevented a fast break goal for the Bison. The Leathernecks were charged with 17 fouls including two yellow cards. NDSU was called for eight fouls and one yellow card.
"As the game went our players continued to play with everything they had to keep us in the game," stated Sanchez.
Kappel finished with a career high 10 saves in her 13th start in net for the Purple & Gold.
Kalani Bertsch made four saves for the Bison before being pulled in the 77th minute for Kathy Kelsey who made three saves of her own.
The Bison outshot the Leathernecks 37-20 on the afternoon.
"We need to keep moving forward," continued Sanchez. "We cannot fix what happened in today's game but we can fix it for the upcoming game. It is always a new game. You will never play the same game twice so we will look to improve upon those details that hurt us today."
The Leathernecks will travel to the west coast for a match with Southern Utah on Thursday at 5 p.m. (CDT) before visiting Oral Roberts on Saturday at noon (CDT).
Goal Summary
North Dakota State
5:54 - Michelle Gaffaney heads in an Abbey Moenkedick set piece.
6:57 - Brooklyn Dyce finds Danielle Boldenow on a give-and-go from five yards.
61:12 - Brooklyn Dyce sets up Danielle Boldenow on a fast break who finishes near post.
84:24 - Aubrey Bot secures loose ball at 25 years and finished top-shelf.
