DEKALB, Ill. – Goals from junior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) and freshman Trudy Quidzinski (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) helped lift the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex, giving NIU head coach Julie Colhoff her first career victory.

"I'm very proud that we bounced back from our performance on Friday to get not only the win, our first goals, and the shutout," said Colhoff. "Collectively, as an entire performance it was good to see us bounce back.

"It was good (to get an early goal) because it settled some nerves and helps people trust in what they are doing. It gives them some confidence and some momentum to carry forward throughout the game."

NIU (1-6) was on the front-foot right from the opening whistle as Gregg had a chance in the third minute that was tipped over the crossbar by Eastern Illinois goalkeeper Sara Teteak. 

In the 11th minute, Gregg put the Huskies in front with her first goal of the season, the third of her collegiate career. Sophomore Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) sent a cross into the box from the left wing and Gregg was able to bundle it into the net at the far post as NIU took a 1-0 lead. 

The Huskies continued to come forward as Gregg forced another save by Teteak in the 18th minute, freshman Kylee Hermeyer (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) had a chance in the 20th minute and Quidzinski doubled NIU's advantage in the 22nd.

Junior Natalie Yass (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) found Quidzinski near the top of the box and the Huskie freshman took one touch and fired a shot low into the corner past Teteak with the Panther goalkeeper leaning the other way. 

NIU created the first chance of the second 45 when freshman Sarah Avery (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) whistled a shot just over the crossbar in the 54th minute. 

Eastern Illinois (1-4-2) began to create some chances of its own as Itzaso Aguero forced a save from NIU sophomore goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) in the 63rd minute and Donnally denied Sarah DeWolf in the 65th. 

The Huskies limited the Panthers from any true quality chances the remainder of the match and nearly scored a third in the 76th minute when Avery hit a low drive just wide of the left post. 

Donnally made eight stops in the contest while Teteak had three saves in goal for Eastern Illinois. 

"I told the team before the game that I believe in every single one of them, I believe that they are the right people to be here and that I'm the right person for them as well and today that is what this is about, coming together to get the victory," said Colhoff of her first career win.

NIU will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 14, when it travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to meet Northern Iowa in the final game of non-conference play. Kickoff between the Huskies and Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m.