CHICAGO, Ill. -- An early goal from Claudia Muessig (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) and a second half penalty from Aubrey Robertson (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) helped lead the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Chicago State on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 18) at Gwendolyn Brooks Stadium. 

"I was proud of the group and the work that we did to get over the line today," said NIU head coach Michael O'Neill. "Coming in we would have liked to control more tempo and territory, but as it turned out we had to dig in more. The second goal was critical, and it gave us a comfort level as we played on the counter. I was most proud of the shutout, the girls worked hard to get it and it is a good way to end non-conference play."

The Huskies went in front just eight minutes into the contest as Muessig pounced on a rebound in the box. NIU attacked down the right side and the initial chance came to Abby McHugh (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda). Her shot was stopped by Chicago State goalkeeper Alexa Seiler, but the rebound fell kindly to Muessig inside the six-yard box and the Paw Paw, Mich., native netted the opening goal. 

For Muessig the goal was her second of the season and the fifth of her NIU career. 

In the 17th minute, Chicago State nearly equalized as Gisselle Sahagun fired a shot that rang off the post to the left of NIU goalkeeper Deighton Wamer (Oregon, Ohio/Clay)

Five minutes later, the Huskies were back on the attack down the left as Jamie Ward (Cherry Valley, Ill./Rockford East) whistled a shot just high and wide of the far post. 

Just before the half-hour mark, Wamer was called into action on a long-range effort from Nahla Dominguez. The shot from 35+ yards dipped just as it reached the goal and Wamer was forced to paw it away as it dipped toward the crossbar. 

NIU (3-2-2) had two more chances in the final minutes of the first half. From a corner in the 38th minute, Jordyn King (Menifee, Calif./Paloma) received the ball at the back post and fired a low shot that was parried away by Seiler. With less than two minutes left before the interval, Reegan Kingpavong (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) played a ball in behind for Madison Looby (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) whose shot went just inches wide of the post as the Huskies took a 1-0 lead into the intermission. 

Less than five minutes after the break, McHugh got in behind the Cougar defense but Seiler was quick off her line to deny the scoring chance and concede a corner. 

Just after the hour mark, the Huskies were reduced to 10 as McHugh was showed a red card. 

NIU doubled its lead from the penalty spot in the 66th minute. Amber Best (Southfield, Mich./Mercy) drew the penalty as she was clipped on the turn inside the box. Robertson stepped up and slotted the penalty past Seiler to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead. 

The goal was the first for Robertson in her collegiate career. 

With a quarter-hour remaining, Muessig sprung Looby for chance to add a third, but Looby's shot just missed the upper corner. 

Chicago State (1-8-1) had one final chance to end the Huskie shutout in the 83rd minute as Kylee Hermeyer (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) cleared a ball away from the Huskie goal line, although Wamer also appeared to have the play covered in behind Hermeyer. 

Wamer made two saves while picking up her second clean sheet of the season; Seiler made three saves for Chicago state. 

NIU will now look ahead to Mid-American Conference play which begins on Thursday, Sept. 22, against Western Michigan. Kickoff against the Broncos is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the NIU Soccer Complex.