DEKALB – The NIU women's soccer team played their second and final exhibition match Wednesday night as they hosted Drake at the NIU Soccer Complex. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with both goals being scored in the second half.
 
"I really liked the way took care of our dead balls on offensive and defensive end," Head Coach John Ross said. "We were strong and we were dangerous as we scored on one and had some opportunities on some others as well."
 
The Huskies' goal was scored in the 52^nd minute for redshirt junior Delaney Loprieno after a corner kick bounced out to Abby Gregg who fired the ball back into the center of the box where Loprieno chipped it over the Drake goalkeeper. NIU controlled the play by the numbers as they took more corner kicks with five to Drake's three and took ten shots to Drake's five.
 
"Delaney Loprieno has stood out so far," Ross said. "She's playing center back for us now when she was typically an attacking mid or forward for us in the past and she stepped into that role and she's done an amazing job with limited reps."
 
The Drake goal was scored in the 83^rd minute by Olivia Bruce who got behind the defense and fired a shot past freshman goalkeeper Megan Donnally who started the second half after senior Amy Annala allowed no goals in the first half.
 
NIU will now focus their attention on getting ready for their regular season opener at Western Illinois in nine days on Friday, Aug. 18 before their regular season home opener on Sunday Aug. 20 against New Mexico State.
 
"It's been a long and hard camp so far with two games in such a short period of time," Ross said. "There's a lot of miles on these players so early so we're going to get them recovered for the next two days then start training hard again on Saturday to prepare for Western Illinois next Friday."