IOWA CITY, Iowa --- The University of North Dakota soccer team will return to Grand Forks still in search of its first goal of the 2012 campaign as its opening weekend concluded with a 3-0 shutout loss at Iowa Sunday.

North Dakota felt it showed improvement over the weekend though and will look for its first victory of the season in its home-opener at Bronson Field Friday against Minnesota, Crookston.

"I am proud of the way the team kept competing today," head coach Kristen Gay said. "Our first test against a Big 10 school and we are pleased with the end result. There are still things we need to correct, but mistakes against a team like this will cost you.

"Both keepers came up huge today for us and they saw some action, but the team is proud of the way we didn't back down."

UND goalkeeper Alex Ciaccio (Minnetonka, Minn.) had to be sharp early as she came up with her first save of the game only 16 seconds into match.

The UND goalkeeper couldn't stop Cloe Lacasse's shot in the 21st minute though. Lacasse put the Hawkeyes on the scoreboard with a shot to the low corner from inside the box for her third goal of the early season.

The Hawkeyes would double their lead to take a 2-0 into the break as Brooke Backes placed a shot into into the left corner and back of the net in the 34th minute.

Kristi Hestdalen (Pierre, S.D.) entered the game in net for UND in the second half, but Iowa got out to another quick start and this time converted as Ashley Catrell scored her first goal of the season in the 48th minute and Iowa's first shot of the second half.

North Dakota finished strong with multiple attacks late in the game including a scoring chance by senior Rhaya Ballon (Rogers, Minn.) who recorded a shot on goal.

Iowa recorded 11 shots on goal to UND's 5.

Ballon, Jensen Forbes (Lethbridge, Alberta), Taryn MacMillan (Rosemount, Minn.), Juliette Austin (Simi Valley, Calif.) and Jaymie Jackson (Anchorage, Alaska) tallied UND's shots on goal.