YPSILANTI, Mich. – A pair of second half goals helped lead Eastern Michigan to a 3-1 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Friday afternoon (Oct. 4) at Scicluna Field. Freshman Nicolette Gossage (Moneka, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) scored her first career goal for the Huskies.

"This wasn't our best performance, in terms of discipline, execution and work rate," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "(The early goal) obviously put us a step behind, the good thing was we came back and got the equalizer, so we were headed into the second half with everything still at stake, but Eastern Michigan outworked us in the second half, so they deserved the win."

Eastern Michigan (2-7-2, 1-2-0 MAC) tested NIU junior goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) early in the contest as Kylie Frantz's effort from just inside the box was saved by the Huskie goalkeeper in the fourth minute. Just a minute later, the Eagles opened the scoring as Sabrina McNeill fired a shot into the upper corner from near the top of the box to give Eastern Michigan an early lead.

NIU (2-7-1, 0-3-0 MAC) had its first attempt on goal in the 27th minute as senior Jennie Nailor's (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) chance was blocked by the Eastern Michigan defense.

The Huskies leveled the match in the 33rd minute as Gossage scored her first goal. The freshman from Moneka, Ill., was just a yard inside the 18-yard box and whistled a shot high into the corner past EMU goalkeeper Mabel Dunn to tie the match, 1-1.

NIU had another chance in the 39th minute as freshman Nicole Barham's (Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos) shot went wide. A minute later, Donnally saved a shot by Lindsey Shira from near the top of the box.

The final chance to break the deadlock before the intermission fell to senior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) whose shot was cleared off the line by the Eastern Michigan defense as the contest went into halftime tied.

Dunn made the first save of the second 45, stopping a shot by Nailor from outside the box in the 53rd minute. A minute later, NIU had another chance as freshman Isabella Sabo (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) was stopped by Dunn.

Just before the hour mark, Donnally made her first save of the second half, keeping out a shot by Amanda Cripps.

Two minutes later, Eastern Michigan went in front for the second time as Sarah Ash fed Shira who fired across goal from about 12 yards, tucking her shot inside the back post to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Barham had a chance to equalize for the Huskies in the 73rd minute but her shot from just inside the box was saved by Dunn.

The Eagles added a third goal in the 79th minute as Cripps gave the home side a two-goal lead. Kristin Hullibarger fed the ball to Cripps who fired low past Donnally to give Eastern Michigan a 3-1 victory.

NIU will conclude its weekend road trip on Sunday, October 6, as the Huskies visit Central Michigan. Kickoff against the Chippewas is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.