KENT, Ohio – The NIU women's soccer team (3-5-2, 2-1 MAC) dropped their first conference match of the season as Kent State (7-1, 3-0 MAC) won 2-0 behind two goals in the second half.
 
The first 45 minutes went scoreless but it didn't go without its chances as Kent State took eight shots, with only one shot on goal and being awarded four corner kicks. The Huskies were awarded a corner in the first half but were unable to get any shots off.
 
"Kent State is a really good and athletic team," Head Coach John Ross said. "We did well at times but we could have done a better job to match their intensity."
 
Kent State scored both of their goals within the first 11 minutes of the second half, first in the 52^nd minute as Donavan Capehart scored her second of the season then Karli Paracca scored in the 56^th minute.
 
"We didn't recover well enough to their first goal and it showed with how quickly they got their second one," Ross said. "We did respond pretty well after the second goal and I really liked our last 30 minutes."
 
NIU ramped up their pressure after the two KSU goals, getting off five shots and being awarded five corner kicks in the half. Back-to-back Huskies' shots were fired off of the posts in the 79^th minute but that would be the closest they'd get as they didn't register an official shot on goal.
 
The Huskies will now head to Athens, Ohio to face the Ohio Bobcats (2-7-1, 0-3 MAC) on Sunday at noon.