NDSU's late-season surge secures Summit League tournament bye

The North Dakota State women's soccer team converted its final regular season match into a strategic advantage, earning a first-round bye in the Summit League tournament. The Bison defeated South Dakota State 1-0 on Sunday in Brookings, S.D., a result that locked them into the top spot in Pod A. This finish places NDSU as the No. 2 overall seed in the postseason bracket.

Gabrielle Garrett scored the only goal of the contest in the 22nd minute. She headed the ball past South Dakota State goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart after Ava Stanchina delivered a corner kick. The victory was a rare one for the program in this location. The last time the Bison won in Brookings was on Oct. 4, 2006, which was also a 1-0 decision.

The win improves the Bison's overall record to 7-6-6 and their Summit League mark to 5-3-2. The result reflects a strong finish to the season that translated directly into tournament positioning. By securing the top seed in their pod, NDSU avoided a quarterfinal match that its opponents must still play.

Fifth-year goalkeeper Payton Mulberry recorded six saves in the win. This performance was her 14th career clean sheet. The achievement moved her into sole possession of fifth place in program history for this metric. She surpassed former Bison keeper Monica Morgan to set a new benchmark for the Division I era.

The Bison will take the week off following Sunday's match. They will then travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the semifinal round. NDSU is scheduled to face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Omaha and South Dakota. That semifinal is set for 2 p.m. on Nov. 12.