DEKALB, Ill. – An 81st minute goal help lift Eastern Michigan to a 1-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on a chilly Friday night at the NIU Soccer Complex. Kylie Frantz shot back across goal helped the Eagles escape with the road victory. 

"I was very pleased that we executed the game plan," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "From the first whistle all the way through, the fight was there, but also the technical and tactical piece that had to go with it. This is soccer, sometimes it doesn't go your way, but in terms of execution I was pleased with our performance today.

"We challenge them to be better collectively defending, shifting with the play and getting numbers behind the ball, I thought they did that well. I also thought that when we were in the attack we were able to get some good looks on goal, some nice shots, credit to their 'keeper, she came up with some nice saves. Obviously, (MacKenzie Lee) coming up with a huge save on a PK, that always helps build some momentum."

In just the 10th minute of the contest, Eastern Michigan (8-8, 3-4 MAC) earned a penalty kick and Parys Kerr stepped up to take it for the Eagles. Kerr's shot was saved by NIU senior goalkeeper MacKenzie Lee (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) as she got down low to her right to make the stop and keep the match even in the early going. 

NIU's (1-14, 0-7 MAC) first good look came in the 21st minute as senior Emilie Furuseth Haugan (Hlavstad, Norway/National Sports Academy) played a good ball in behind the Eagle defense to junior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) but her shot from a tight angle was turned away by Eastern Michigan goalkeeper Mabel Dunn. 

Lee made another good save in the 35th minute, stopping Eastern Michigan's Mikayla Cupp as the match remained scoreless; three minutes later junior Kelsey Chope (San Jose, Calif./Leland) had a go at goal that looked like it might sneak inside the post but Dunn was able to deflect it away as the contest went into the intermission deadlocked, 0-0. 

Just before the hour mark, Lee once again thwarted an opportunity for the Eagles to open the scoring, saving a shot from Lindsey Shira. NIU then had an opportunity in the 64th minute as senior Delaney Loprieno's (Algonquin, Ill./Huntley) dipping shot from distance went just over the crossbar. 

The Huskies had another look at goal from outside the box in the 70th minute as a shot from freshman Trudy Quidzinski (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) was tipped away by Dunn. 

With just nine minutes to play, the Eagles finally broke the deadlock as Frantz, who was on the right wing just inside the box, sent a shot across the face of goal and just inside the back post to give Eastern Michigan a 1-0 lead. 

After the goal, NIU pressed for an equalizer and a corner kick from junior Natalie Yass (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) came off the post in the 88th minute before the Eastern Michigan defense was able to scramble it away and avert the danger as the Eagles hung on for the 1-0 victory. 

Lee made 11 saves in goal for NIU while Dunn had six stops for Eastern Michigan. 

The Huskies will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 14, when they host Central Michigan at 2 p.m. Prior to Sunday's match, NIU will host its six seniors during its Senior Day ceremony.