CHICAGO – Continuing its season full of firsts, the Chicago State University women's soccer team made history once again Friday afternoon by hosting North Dakota in its first-ever home game as a program at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Stadium. The Cougars christened Kroc Stadium as their home field in a pre-game ceremony before the visitors claimed a 3-0 victory.
Both teams battled each other tough for the game's opening 37 minutes until North Dakota claimed a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute when freshman Austin Overson hit the back of the net with a header off sophomore Kirsten Olson's corner kick.
CSU stayed within a one-goal deficit for most in the second half until UND scored a pair of goals within an 11-minute span to seal the win. The 25 freshman squad held its own throughout the contest as it continues to adjust to the collegiate game.
"I thought that we came out looking a lot better than we did last weekend. You can see bits and pieces of our maturity in us coming together (as a team)," said first-year head coach
Tony Tommasi following the game.
Freshman goalkeeper
Carrie Hepp (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper) was the player of the game for Chicago State as she recorded a game-high 12 saves in 74 minutes of play.
The Cougars return to Kroc Stadium this Sunday for a non-conference battle against Cleveland State with the opening kick set for 1 p.m., central time.
