Box Score |
Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – On a rainy afternoon forcing wet conditions at Lakeside Field, Northern Illinois scored in the 80th minute to break a 1-1 tie and hand Eastern Illinois its first loss of the season. NIU won 2-1.
The Panthers dropped to 2-1-3 on the season while NIU improved to 2-0-2.
The two teams played a scoreless first half with
Daniela Bermeo making five of her six saves in the match in the opening half. Deighton Wamer had a save in the opening half on EIU's lone first half shot on goal.
In the second half the Huskies finally broke through scoring in the opening minute of the second half. Madison Looby found a loose ball on a scramble in front of the net and finished off the goal. The initial ball into the box was served up by Aubrey Robertson as NIU pushed the tempo in the opening minute.
EIU would have an equalizer taken off the board five minutes later on an offsides call but did even the match in the 66th minute on a goal by
Karima Rangel. Rangel finished off a play that began with a
Amanda DaSilva corner kick that was headed first by
Kenzie Balcerak before Rangel collected the goal.
Abby Adams then picked up the match winner for NIU in the 80th minute as a ball was played around a diving Bermeo on a first shot and then Adams finished off the goal beating a defender to the open area. Abby McHugh and Amber Best picked up assists on the goal.
EIU finished with eight shots on goal with Rangel picking up three.
Jenna Little had two.
Reegan Kingpavong had two of the nine NIU shots on goal in the match.
EIU returns to action next Sunday at Central Michigan with a 12 pm kick. Prior to today's loss, EIU's 2-0-3 start was the second best in program history and this year's team already set a program record with four straight shutouts to open the year.
