KEARNEY, Neb. – For 87 minutes USF kept NWOSU without a shot, but a late strike proved the difference as the Cougars fell 1-0 Friday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.

THE BASICS
Date: Friday, September 12, 2025
Score: NWOSU 1, Sioux Falls 0
USF Record: 1-1-0
NWOSU Record: 3-0-0

HOW IT HAPPENED
USF was on the front foot early and nearly opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Addison Van Zee rattled a shot off the crossbar. On the rebound, Julia Bowman tried to settle an awkward bounce but sent her attempt just over the frame. Despite several close calls, the match went into halftime scoreless.

DeMay noted that when the Cougars established possession in the first half, they looked dangerous, though at times they allowed NWOSU to dictate tempo.

The second half saw USF step up its pressure, playing large stretches in the attacking half and earning another quality chance when Martina Krattley fired just wide in the 53rd minute. The Cougars outshot the Rangers 6-2 overall and held them without a shot until the final three minutes of regulation.

Even with the sustained control, the Cougars couldn't turn possession into a breakthrough. DeMay emphasized that the group will need to continue working on translating pressure into "more clear-cut goal scoring chances and shots."

That narrow margin left the door open, and with 2:45 remaining, NWOSU seized the moment. After intercepting a pass in the midfield, the Rangers centered the ball into the box, where Christi-Anne Mills converted the game-winner into the lower right corner.

In reflecting on the late concession, DeMay said the final 10 minutes were defined by missed opportunities to manage possession, which allowed NWOSU back into the game. "Ultimately, that created the opening for them to nudge in front in the dying minutes," he explained.

Still, he pointed to the progress made from training and the season's early stretch: "There are certainly positives to take from this week of training and today's game, but the result today still stings. We will have to regroup, reenergize, and prepare for another quality opponent in UNK on Sunday."

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Shots: USF 6, NWOSU 2

• Shots on Goal: USF 2, NWOSU 1

• Saves: USF 0, NWOSU 2

• Corner Kicks: USF 1, NWOSU 2

• Fouls: USF 2, NWOSU 4

UP NEXT
The Cougars continue play in Kearney on Sunday, September 14, facing tournament host Nebraska Kearney at 1 p.m. at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

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