KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The NIU women's soccer team (4-10-4, 3-6-2 MAC) dropped their regular season finale to Western Michigan 2-1 on Thursday. Despite the loss, the Huskies clinched the 8th seed in the Mid-American Conference to play in the MAC Tournament on Sunday.

"The ladies fought really hard and created quality chances," Head Coach John Ross said. "I was happy with the way our team sacrificed to work back and block shots defensively."

NIU got off to a quick start as they were awarded a corner kick in the second minute of the game. Freshman Natalie Yass (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) took the corner that eventually fell to senior defender Alex Elias (Phoenix, Ariz/Boulder Creek) who put it in the back of the net for the Huskies to take an early 1-0 lead.
 
The lead would hold through the entire first half but not long into the second half as WMU scored in the 47th minute with a goal from Alex Ruffer. The game remained tied until the 85th minute when Candice Uhl gave the Broncos the lead at 2-1.

"Western Michigan is very dangerous offensively and they capitalized when they needed to," Ross said.
 
Once the game went final, NIU needed Bowling Green and Ohio to both lose their games to make the MAC Tournament and that is what happened. Toledo beat Bowling Green 2-1 and Ohio lost to Kent State 3-2 in overtime.
 
The Huskies will go on to play Ball State in the first round of the MAC Tournament in Muncie, Ind. on Sunday at noon.