VERMILLION, S.D. --- The University of North Dakota soccer squad settled for a 4-4 tie today against long-time rival South Dakota in nonconference action.
"It is always a battle against (South Dakota) and we were ready tonight," head coach Kristen Gay said. "We got out to a great start, but just need to learn how to put teams away. We have the ability to be a special team. Now we have to put two complete halves together."
Noel Scherer (Fargo, N.D.), Rhaya Ballon (Rogers, Minn.), Sheri Stapf (Lakeville, Minn.) and Noah Mithrush (Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia) scored for North Dakota.
UND was looking to get out to quick start entering the game without a first-half goal this season, but carried its momentum built in its previous match on Friday, where it scored four goals in the second half against Minnesota, Crookston, to build an early 2-0 lead.
Scherer connected on a nice cross pass from Megan Anderson (Rapid City, S.D) to score the first goal of the game in the ninth minute. Ballon added her second goal of the season, beating USD netminder Jen Schaefer, in the 11th minute to build the early two-goal lead.
Danielle Anderson cut the lead in half late in the 39th minute, but North Dakota quickly answered to regain the two-goal cushion only 38-seconds afterwards as Stapf connected on a free kick, from over 30 yards out, to send the road team into the break with a 3-1 advantage.
USD's Jenny Teslow scored two second-half goals, including a game-tying score with eight seconds left, to lead the Coyotes to a come-from-behind draw.
After USD evened the game with under five minutes to play in regulation, Mithrush scored her first goal as a member of UND to reclaim the lead at 87:31, but Teslow again found the back of the net at 89:52 to send the game to overtime.
UND goalkeeper Kristi Hestdalen (Pierre, S.D.) made seven saves in the game.
North Dakota now enters a five-game home stand at Bronson Field opening with South Dakota State on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m.
