DeKalb Ill., - The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team took on the Toledo Rockets on Sunday, Sept. 24. The Huskies trailed for 58 minutes but an 88^th minute goal from senior Amara Thompkins (Racine, Wis. / Indian Trail) salvaged a 1-1 tie in the conference home opener.  

The Huskies were outshot 4-2 in the first half and trailed after a Rockets goal in the 30^th minute. NIU bounced back outshooting Toledo 10-1 in the final 45 and finding the game-tying goal in the final moments.
NIU senior midfielder Madison Frazer's (Oswego, Ill. / Oswego East) shot went off the Toledo goalkeeper Brielle Young for a save but the ball deflected out to Thompkins who kicked it into the bottom right corner of the net. The game-tying goal was

Thompkins' first in 55 games for the Huskies.

"It was a really slow start for us, from minute one that wasn't how we wanted to approach the game. We wanted to start with quick tempo and a sense of urgency and that didn't happen until the second half," NIU assistant coach Laurence Patterson said.

The Huskies controlled the pace in the final half as they earned eight corner kicks and forced Toledo to play deep in their own half for much of the half.

"We started the second half down a goal and had to dig ourselves out of the hole, credit to our players for being able to bounce back. We dug deep and were able to get something out of this game," Patterson said.

In the match, NIU redshirt senior goalkeeper Sadie McGill (Fort Worth, Texas / L.D Bell) made two saves with one goal allowed while Toledo's Young made three saves with one goal allowed.  

Toledo didn't allow any good chances in the first half as the Rockets kept the pressure up early. Toledo broke through with a goal from Mia Lonetti off of a corner kick.

The Huskies came out of the break controlling the game, NIU got three shots with one goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half. That pressure continued as Young was forced to make two more saves before a Huskie corner kick in the 88^th minute.

The corner was launched into the middle of the box as Frazer reached out and put it on frame, Young made the save but Thompkins was able to get the next touch on the ball and secure her first goal at NIU and the draw.

NIU kept the pressure up after the game tying goal as well. NIU kicked the ball back into the box in the closing minute. Multiple Huskies appealed for a handball but there was no call made. The Huskies forced two corner kicks in the final 50 seconds but were unable to score the winner.  

At halftime, NIU recognized the alumni of the women's soccer program to honor its 30^th anniversary and honored the 25^th anniversary of the 1998 MAC championship team.

The Huskies will remain at home as they will take on the Ohio Bobcats on Thursday, Sept. 28. The match is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff and admission to all NIU Soccer matches is free of charge.

-NIU -