Box Score
GRAND FORKS, N.D. –  The Portland State offense showed up a in a big way on Sunday as the squad tallied two goals and cashing in on an own goal to record its first conference victory of the season against North Dakota (2-6-1, 0-2-0), 3-1, in Grand Forks, N.D. Sophomore Kayla Henningsen and Amanda Howie powered the Viking attack with a goal apiece, as the Viks improved to 3-5-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the conference.

North Dakota found the scoresheet first in this match as Noel Scherer scored off a pass from Sheri Stapf in the 21^st minute, to go up 1-0. PSU answered right back in the 23^rd minute as senior Amanda Dutra found Henningsen for her second of the season, to knot it up at 1-1. The assist is a historical one for Dutra as she is now tied with Julie Forrest for the program record in career assists with 13. PSU had another strong opening frame as it tallied 11 shots and held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.

In the second half PSU took advantage of a North Dakota, own goal as the Viks  took a 2-1 lead. Senior Amanda Howie put the match out of reach in the 79^th minute scoring her first of the season and securing the Viks first conference victory in 2012, 3-1.

PSU came out in this match firing, literally, tying a season-high total in shots, with 22. North Dakota recorded 12. The Viks also held the advantage in corners 7-4. Aside from scoring a goal, Henningsen also led the team in shots with five while Howie tallied three, including her goal. Rhaya Ballon and Amanda Dahl paced North Dakota in shots with three apiece.

Hulsizer made her ninth start of the season making five saves and allowing one goal to improve to 3-5-1 overall. Kristi Hestdalen started for the team from Grand Forks, N.D., and made 10 saves allowing three goals in the losing effort. She fell 2-5-1.

Portland State will return home to host its first Big Sky matches of 2012 when it plays Montana and Eastern Washington on Friday and Sunday. Both of those starts are 1 p.m. start times.

GAME NOTES: This was the first ever meeting between these two squads as PSU is now 1-0-0 in the all-time series … Dutra's assist on the first goal of the game ties her with Julie Forrest for the career-assists record at Portland State with 13 … With the win head coach Laura Schott continues her streak of never being swept in a Big Sky opening weekend … Schott is now 18-5-4 all-time in conference contests.