NDSU at Minnesota State University-Moorhead – September 17, 2008

As the sun went down and an army of mosquitoes came out, NDSU stood across the pitch from their cross-river rivals, the Minnesota State University-Moorhead Dragons. The game moved at a fast pace for most of the first half. NDSU moved the ball convincingly around the field, shooting only occasionally. Could it be a repeat of their goal-deprived Rapid City match? With a bench full of talented players waiting, the Bison didn’t seem to think so.

Moorhead showed life on the other end with speed coming from the outside midfielders and forwards. However, solid Bison defense and goalkeeping kept the Dragons from taking many solid shots. Then, with less than three minutes left to go in the half, the Bison stuffed the ball in on a scramble in front of the Moorhead goal. NDSU went into halftime with a 1 – 0 lead.

The second half started with sharp intensity from the Moorhead offense. Now well into the night with the lights illuminating a damp field and a small crowd, the Dragons seemed determined to prove what they were made of with quick runs and passes up the field. However, the starting defense of Bobby Smith, Allen Wilkens, and Justin Sipma would have none of it, and it wasn’t too long before momentum shifted. Roughly midway through the second half, midfielder Chris Garty received a pass and found himself nearly face to face with the Moorhead goalie. With experienced composure, Garty guided the ball near-post and down the back of the net, giving the Bison a two goal lead.

Closely after that goal, Tanner Naastad was taken down on a breakaway inside the Dragon’s penalty box. Naastad took the kick, calmly blasting it just above the ground past a stunned keeper. Moorhead, although severely wounded, would not go down without a fight. Their attacks persisted, and eventually they squeaked one in. It came when cross floated in from 30 years out, passed over and through a small crowd, deflected off a defender, attacker and goalie, and landed at the feet of a Dragon forward. With goalie Tom Erickson caught out of position, the forward blasted it off one of the two covering Bison defenders and into the goal. Their efforts came too late, however, and NDSU walked off with a 3–1 victory. The win improves the Bison’s record to 3-1-0 on the season.