(Photo Credit: Russ Hons-UND Athletics)

Yesterday, the Fighting Hawks Women’s Soccer Team took on perennial Summit League power, the Pioneers of Denver University, and came out on the short end of a 7-0 score over at Bronson Field.

Is that score not ideal for a team trying to make the postseason and needing probably at least four points to assure a spot? Of course it is not ideal. Does this team have the same mentality as it did under former Bench Boss, Matt Kellogg where one goal per game was typically the most his teams scored at least in conference play?

My goodness no it does not.

This team actually played more aggressive aginst Denver down two to start the second half. As a result, Madi Livingston on her debut start had to make several tough saves, and her making seven on 14 shots is not in any way indicative of her skill. If you could assign extra points to a goalie for saving quality shots, she would have easily earned a lot of them on the day. Head Coach Chris Logan had nothing but praise for how Livingston played given the circumstances of the game and the plan in the second half.

As to the field players for UND, Mimi Eiden had a nice chance for the Fighting Hawks before Denver found their footing and it was saved by Brittany Wilson. On the day that was one of their better chances. Logan also praised Bailey McNitt’s play off the wing, as she has played like a seasoned veteran all year being able to possess and distribute at will at times.

For all of this angst of Friday, at the end of the day it equates to one loss. This team still has all of its goals in front of it, but needs to convert any early opportunity it can against an Omaha team hungry to climb ahead of them in the standings. This team as Logan has said multiple times can compete with anyone. Really the only game in the Summit Leauge that this team was not able to generate much of anything was the 1-0 loss to Oral Roberts, and even then they still had a late chance to win it before a penalty kick goal in overtime sealed their fate.

Come out to Bronson Field Sunday at one o’clock p.m. This is the last home game for a team with so much to play for, and one still looking for its tenth win. This Fighting Hawks side, no matter their final destination has advanced UND Soccer so much, its final extent yet to be determined.

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