DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team fell to Green Bay, 2-0, on Friday evening at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Phoenix scored in the fourth minute and, although the Huskies outshot Green Bay 12-9 in the contest, were able to pick up the road victory.  

"The second half was better but I'm not into moral victories," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "To come out in the second half and say that we tried harder, to me that should be the expectation from the opening whistle."

The early goal for Green Bay came off a cross from the right wing by Alycia Wright who found Kayla Minor all alone inside the six-yard box. Minor redirected the cross into the net as the Phoenix took a 1-0 lead. 

In the 26th minute, NIU sophomore goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made a pair of good saves on Green Bay's Mara Pfeilstifter. 

Green Bay (2-5) doubled its lead in the 35th minute as McKayla Kertscher scored her third goal of the season. The Phoenix had a free kick from midfield that fell near the top of the box but the Huskie defense couldn't clear it and Kertscher pounced to score and give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead. 

NIU (0-6) tested Green Bay goalkeeper Courtney Klatt in the 39th minute as sophomore Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) fired a shot from distance into the palms of the Phoenix goalkeeper. 

After the intermission, the Huskies began to see more of the ball and created the better chances. Freshman Kylee Hermeyer (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) forced Klatt down to her right to stop of shot in the 51st minute. Just a minute later, Hoppe whipped in a good cross toward junior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) but she was unable to keep her shot down as it went harmlessly over the crossbar. 

Kertscher created an opportunity for Green Bay in the 65th minute as she moved through the NIU defense but dragged a shot wide of the far post. 

With just less than 20 minutes to play, the Huskies created numerous chances, two from freshman Trudy Quidzinski (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) that required saves from the Phoenix goalkeeper as well as chances from Gregg and junior Grace Louis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore). 

NIU continued to push as Gregg saw another shot saved in the 88th minute but the Huskies were unable to find a breakthrough as Green Bay earned the 2-0 victory. 

Klatt made eight saves in goal for the Phoenix while Donnally had four stops between the sticks for the Huskies. 

NIU will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 9, as the Huskies host Eastern Illinois. Kickoff against the Panthers is slated for 2 p.m.