MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Three goals in the opening half-hour helped lift Milwaukee to a 6-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Thursday night, Aug. 19, in the season opener for both teams. 

"Milwaukee is a very good team that was pretty clinical in its finishing," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "I also think we didn't do a great job of limiting second chances. We were able to create some quality chances against a quality opponent, which was good, something to build off. It was good to see some of our freshmen play significant minutes and impact the game.

"Kali Stock played 90 minutes, Maddie Macon played a big amount, Edith Delgado created some things in midfield, so those were some positives from tonight."

Milwaukee opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Taylor Hattori's initial shot cannoned back off the crossbar to the feet of Jelena Sever who found the back of the net on the rebound to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. 

Six minutes later, NIU goalkeeper Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) made a nice double save, stopping an initial shot from Gaby Schwartz and the rebound from Maggy Henschler. 

Natalie Auble doubled the lead for Milwaukee in the 21st minute as a cross from Rafferty Kugler was bobbled by Lentz and poked home by Auble to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. 

Auble added her second goal of the contest for the Panthers with a shot from just outside the box that snuck inside the near post in the 29th minute to give Milwaukee a third. 

Lentz was credited with four saves in the opening 45 minutes as the Panthers took a 3-0 lead into the intermission. 

In the opening moments of the second half, Kierah Meier (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) had a chance as she collected the ball just inside the box on the left side and tested Milwaukee goalkeeper Elaina LaMacchia. 

Just past the hour mark, Meier had another look at goal as a curling effort from just outside the box was collected by LaMacchia.

Milwaukee added a fourth goal in the 65th minute as a low cross from Auble ran all the way through the box to the back post where Mackenzie Schill finished to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead. 

In the 78th minute, Milwaukee scored again as Kat Van Booven's left-footed effort from outside the box found the back of the net for the Panthers. 

The Panthers added another goal in the 84th minute when Lainey Higgins slipped a ball into the run of Brooke Parnello who smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar and in. 

Lentz was credited with five saves in the contest, LaMacchia made four stops and Milwaukee reserve goalkeeper Allie Strottman made one save. 

NIU will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 22, when the Huskies host Indiana State in the home opener. Kickoff against the Sycamores is scheduled for 5 p.m.