LAKELAND RANCH, Fla. – The Northern Illinois University women's golf team started its spring season by defeating Match Play host Bowling Green, 4-1, in the second round of the MAC Match Play Challenge Monday at the Lakeland Ranch Golf and Country Club.
 
The Huskies, the No. 4 seed in the Match Play Challenge, received a first-round bye. With the win over the Falcons, NIU advances to the semifinals Tuesday versus No. 2 seed Florida Gulf Coast.     
 
"Overall, we played very solid as a team," said NIU head women's golf coach Kim Kester. "It was great to get four wins in this afternoon."
 
The Huskies were led by freshman Lauren Ingle (Rochester Hills, Mich./ Rochester Hills Stoney Creek) as she defeated Sarah Kern of Bowling Green, 6 and 5. 
 
Brielle Ward (Frisco, Texas/ Wakeland) defeated Erin Fahey of Bowling Green, 4 and 3.  The junior took a four-stroke lead in the first four holes and never looked back. 
 
"Brielle and Lauren got off to a hot start on our first holes of the day," Kester said. 
 
Sofia Gomez Enriquez Riart (Asunción, Paraguay/ Montverde Academy) defeated Sammi Blackburn of Bowling Green, 2 up.  Sophomore Isabella Samudio (Bogotá, Colombia/ Colegio Helvetia de Bogotà) defeated Jessica Madry of Bowling Green, 3 and 2.
 
Junior Kelly Anderson (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) suffered the only setback of the day for NIU as she dropped by Nichole Cox of Bowling Green 2 and 1.
 
NIU and FGCU tee-off in the semifinals at 6:50 a.m. CT.  Live scoring for the MAC Match Play Challenge is available through golfstat.com. 
 
"We know it will be a tough match and are excited to play FGCU," said Kester. "We're looking for the ladies to start out hot again [Tuesday] and pick up where there they left off today."
 
Results from day one:
 
Round one:
 
No. 8 UNC-Asheville def. No. 9 Eastern Michigan, 4-1-0
No. 5 Western Michigan def. No. 12 Fort Wayne, 3-2-0
No. 7 Ohio def. No. 10 Dayton, 3-1-1
No. 6 Bowling Green State def. No. 11 Central Michigan, 3-2-0
 
Round two:
 
No. 1 Kent State def. No. 8 UNC-Asheville, 4-1-0
No. 5 Western Michigan def. No. 4 Akron, 3-2-0
No. 2 Florida Gulf Coast def. No. 7 Ohio, 4-1-0
No. 3 Northern Illinois def. No. 6 Bowling Green State, 4-1-0
 
Lauren Ingle (NIU) def. Sarah Kern (BGSU), 6 and 5
Brielle Ward (NIU) def. Erin Fahey (BGSU), 4 and 3
Sofia Gomez Enriquez Riart (NIU) def. Sammi Blackburn (BGSU), 2 up
Isabella Samudio (NIU) def. Jessica Madry (BGSU), 3 and 2
Nichole Cox (BGSU) def. Kelly Anderson (NIU), 2 and 1
 
Day One Consolation:
 
No. 12 Fort Wayne def. No. 11 Central Michigan, 3-2-0
No. 9 Eastern Michigan def. No. 10 Dayton, 4-1-0
 
Round Three Semifinals (Winner's Bracket):
 
No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 5 Western Michigan
No. 2 Florida Gulf Coast vs. No. 3 Northern Illinois
 
Tomorrow's Consolation Bracket:
 
No. 8 UNC Asheville vs. No. 7 Ohio
No. 4 Akron vs. No. 6 Bowling Green State
No. 12 Fort Wayne vs. No. 10 Dayton
No. 9 Eastern Michigan vs. No. 11 Central Michigan
 
–NIU–