The UND women’s soccer team lost both games in a tough two-game road series this past weekend.

The first was in Illinois against the Western Illinois Leathernecks on Friday. UND lost that game 2-0 before traveling to Iowa State. The second game was in Ames, Iowa on Sunday, where the team met the same fate, losing 4-0.

With adjusting to a new coach this season, it may be expected that UND will have some struggles at the start of the season until they have fully adjusted to the change. One of the biggest struggles UND had this past weekend was the amount of shots they were taking.

The Green and White struggled against Western Illinois, as they were down by one goal early in the game at the eight minute mark and could not regain momentum. The shots taken were a factor as UND trailed eight to the Leathernecks’ 29. However, North Dakota was able to keep it close in total shots on goal — seven for the Leathernecks and four for UND.

The temperature was in the upper 80s as UND tried to fight back against the tough offense of Western Illinois. This was the third straight loss for North Dakota in regular season play this season. UND came into the game with a record of 0-5 and Northern Illinois, 3-2. Kristi Hestdalen was in net the whole game for North Dakota, making five total saves.

UND’s second game of the weekend followed a similar storyline to the first. UND took on Iowa State and 4-0.

Down a goal early in the first four minutes of the game once again, North Dakota had to fight back the whole game as Iowa State put up four goals and never looked back. UND stayed close until the 36 minute mark when Iowa State put up two straight goals within the same minute of the game and led by three.

The shots department was an issue once again for North Dakota, as it only had one total shot taken. Iowa State capitalized in that area with 32 total shots and 14 on net. Hestdalen was tested once again as she made ten saves out of 14 total shots. The amount of fouls taken by both teams were fairly high, with Iowa State having 12 and UND at ten. UND dropped to 0-6-0 in regular season play.

Hestdalen made 10 total saves in the game, and became UND’s all-time leader in saves, she only needed six saves to take the lead.

“Breaking the record today is a tremendous personal accomplishment, and we’re very happy for her,” UND coach Matt Kellogg said in a press release.

North Dakota will now travel home to begin a stretch of games on familiar territory.

UND’s home season will start Wednesday against North Dakota State University at 4:30 p.m. in Grand Forks. After three weeks of being on the road, the team hopes to claim the home field advantage.

Mariah Holland is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at mariah.holland@my.und.edu.