TOLEDO, Ohio – Trailing by a goal with five minutes to play, the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team found an equalizer through senior Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) and an overtime winner from freshman Kierah Meier (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) as the Huskies topped Toledo, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon (March 7) at Paul Hotmer Field. 

"I'm pleased and proud of the work from our group today," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "We talked a lot about sustaining our effort and our game plan, seeing it all the way through, because that is where we fell short on Thursday. We were able to do that today, we gave up the goal, but it was good to see everybody not give up, to work hard and fight.

"Great service from (Hannah) Kroupa and great finish from Haley (Hoppe) and heading into overtime with momentum is always a great thing. Getting the deal sealed quickly (in overtime) was a good thing for us, it came off some defensive work from Haley (Hoppe) getting the ball to Anese (English) who played a brilliant ball to Kierah (Meier) and then Kierah had a really composed finish to get the win. It is exciting, the group is excited, and it is a good step in the right direction."

NIU (1-1-0, 1-1-0 MAC) had the first look at goal in the contest as sophomore Nicolette Gossage (Moneka, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) took a shot from outside the box that was scrambled away by Toledo goalkeeper Emma Boutorwick in the fourth minute. 

The two teams combined were credited with 18 shots in the first half but neither team could make the breakthrough as the contest went into halftime tied. 

Toledo (0-2-0, 0-2-0 MAC) broke the deadlock just before the hour mark as Stephanie Currie forced a turnover in midfield and ran toward the edge of the box before laying it off to Betsk Lueck for a shot that went in off the far post to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead. 

NIU pushed for a tying goal as the second half clock ticked away and with just under five minutes to play in regulation the Huskies were level through Hoppe. The Huskies won a corner and sophomore Hannah Kroupa (New Berlin, Wis./New Berlin) floated the set piece toward the back post where Hoppe rose above everyone, including the outstretched hand of Boutorwick, to even the match, 1-1, in the 86th minute. 

The Huskies needed just over three minutes into the extra period as Meier netted the winner. Freshman Anese English (Chicago, Ill./Eisenhower) created a turnover 30 yards from goal and played a ball in behind the Toledo defense to Meier whose first touch pushed the ball past Boutorwick, who was coming out off her line, and into the back of the net to give the Huskies the victory.  

Boutorwick made four saves in goal for the Rockets, junior Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) made six stops in the first half for the Huskies while senior Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made three stops after coming in to start the second half.

NIU will return to action next Sunday, March 14, when the Huskies host Eastern Michigan. Kickoff against the Eagles is scheduled for 3 p.m.