MACOMB, Ill. – Freshman Julia Neary (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) scored her first career goal and sophomore Julia Lentz (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made seven saves as the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team defeated Western Illinois, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at MacKenzie Alumni Field.

"I'm very pleased with how our team bounced back after Friday's match," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "I think that they took to heart that they could be a better version of themselves and in today's match they came out with a lot more heart and willingness right from the beginning and were committed to working for the win all the way to the final whistle."

The first chance of the match fell to Western Illinois is in the sixth minute as a cross from the right found Zoe Clarke who forced a save from Lentz down to her right

NIU's first attempt at goal came in the 11th minute as freshman Isabella Sabo (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) latched on to a Western Illinois turnover and fired high over the top of the Leathernecks goal.

Amy Andrews slipped past a pair of NIU defenders in the 18th minute and found space to have a shot, but Lentz was up to the task and thwarted the Western Illinois opportunity.

In the 26th minute, junior Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) sent a shot off the crossbar as she got on the end of a cross from the left-side by sophomore Sarah Avery (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and beat Western Illinois goalkeeper Ines Palmiero Herrera but was unable to find the back of the net.

NIU (1-2-1) continued to push for the opening goal late in the first half as junior Amanda Czerniak (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) sent a shot high off a Leatherneck turnover in the 40th minute. Three minutes later from a Huskie free kick, the ball pinballed off the post and then off senior Lauren Neslund (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) who was unable to redirect it back on target as the game went to halftime scoreless.

Six minutes after halftime, Lynette Hawkins made a run down the left for the Leathernecks, cut inside and sent a shot on goal right at Lentz who made the save.

NIU had a good chance to open the scoring in the 57th minute as Hoppe got a head on a free kick and forced a save from Palmiero Herrera who pushed the ball out for a corner, which was cleared by the Leathernecks.

Neary broke the deadlock just after the hour mark as she collected the ball just outside the top of the box, took a touch around a defender and smashed a shot into the upper corner, past an outstretched Palmiero Herrera who had no chance as the Huskie freshman gave NIU a 1-0 lead.

Western Illinois (2-2-1) looked to answer as Emily Bollman took a shot from outside the box that went high in the 66th minute and Lauryn Peters sent a shot wide three minutes later.

In the 70th minute the Huskies had an excellent chance to double their advantage as Avery cut along the goal line at a tight angle to force an excellent save from Palmiero Herrera and the rebound fell to senior Kelsey Chope (San Jose, Calif./Leland) who tried to tuck a shot inside the back post but just missed.

Western Illinois had a trio of looks at goal in the final moments as Andrews, Clarke and Jenna Lundgren all tested Lentz but the NIU sophomore goalkeeper stopped all three shots to preserve her shutout and the Huskie victory.

"Anytime you can get a win on the road that is huge," said Colhoff. "Also to break our streak of allowing early goals, to get a clean sheet, for (Julia) Neary to get her first goal, there are a lot of positive moments that I think we can carry into this week in training."

NIU will return to action on week from today, September 15, when the Huskies host Loyola Chicago. Kickoff against the Ramblers is scheduled for 6 p.m.