DEKALB, Ill. – Julia Neary (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills) scored from the penalty spot in the 40th minute but the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team was unable to complete the comeback as it fell, 2-1, to Eastern Michigan on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 3) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Lindsey Shira and Sarah Ash found the back of the net for the Eagles in the road win. 

"Consistency is the biggest thing right now," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "We can talk about tactics, we can talk about style of play and all of those things, but if we don't show up consistently with the work rate, consistently with the passion to fight and battle than nothing else really matters. The MAC is an extremely competitive conference where any game can go anyway, but there isn't a game where you can show up, not compete and win the game."

Eastern Michigan (2-7-2, 1-2-1 MAC) opened the scoring in the 20th minute on a goal by Shira. After collecting the ball near the sideline, Shira weaved her way through a trio of NIU defenders to just outside the top of the box and fired a shot inside the far post to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. 

The advantage was doubled in the 34th minute on a goal by Ash. Eastern Michigan earned a free kick near the corner flag and the initial ball was whipped inside the six-yard box where Ash redirected it toward goal. The ball then pinballed back to Ash and she volleyed it in from the top of the six to put Eastern Michigan in front, 2-0.  

Six minutes later, NIU pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. Eastern Michigan was called for a handball in the box and Neary stepped up to take the spot kick. The Vernon Hills, Ill., native slotted the ball into the net from 12 yards for her second goal of the season, both coming on penalties, as the Huskies cut the Eastern Michigan advantage in half at the break. 

Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) and Kierah Meier (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) both forced saves from Eastern Michigan goalkeeper Chelsea Abbotts in the opening 15 minutes of the second half as the Huskies pressed for an equalizer. 

NIU's best chance to grab a second goal came in the 71st minute through Hoppe. The Huskies earned a corner and the senior from Austin, Texas rose highest above the crowd, powering a header toward goal that was headed on the goal line by an Eagle, off the crossbar before it was scrambled away by the Eastern Michigan defense. 

In the 83rd minute, Lexy Alston had an excellent chance for Eastern Michigan as she received the ball at the top of the six-yard box and swiveled for a first-time shot, but Huskie goalkeeper Sadie McGill (Fort Worth, Texas/North Texas) reacted very well to make the save at close range. 

McGill finished with four saves in the contest for the Huskies, Abbotts made three stops in the contest for Eastern Michigan. 

NIU will return to the road on Thursday night, Oct. 7, as the Huskies travel to Kent State. Kickoff against the Golden Flashes is slated for 6 p.m. CT.