DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team bounced back from a halftime deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan, 2-1, at the NIU Soccer Complex on Friday. The Huskies scored twice early in the second half to take the lead and held it the rest of the way.
 
NIU (8-4-4, 2-3-3 MAC) evened up the match in the 48^th minute as Isabel Struble (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Mount Pleasant) headed the ball in from close range. The Huskies took the lead in the 57^th minute when Abby Zipse (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) scored with an assist from Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj (Kitchener, Ontario) to propel the Huskies into the lead.
 
"Coming back in the second half was going to be tough challenge but we knew an early goal would impact that," NIU head coach Michael O'Neill said. "Struble getting the ball over the line was so important and we talk about those finishes every day. The cherry on top was Zipse scoring her first goal in her career. That is an amazing feat for her and she will be important as we work to earn more victories,"
 
The Huskies controlled play for most of the match as they held 63 percent of the possession and recorded five shots on frame to only one for EMU.
 
"I'm thrilled with the complete performance today," said O'Neill. "In the first half, we weren't bad but it was tough going against the wind and we conceded a goal against the run of play. We were combative in the middle of the field."
 
Ary Purifoy (Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem) earned the win and made a contested catch late in the second half to deny EMU a look on net. Ella Holland took the loss in net for Eastern Michigan making two saves.
 
Throughout the first half of play, NIU held 67 percent of the possession but was only able to record one shot on frame. The Eagles lone shot on net came in the 37^th minute as Sophia Baumann got the Eagles on the board with an assist from Hannah Thompson.
 
In the second half, NIU quickly forced the ball deep into Eagles territory as Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Metea Valley) drove the ball into the corner. The Huskies forced the ball into the box and a redirection off an Eagles defender set up Struble from close range and she tucked the ball away.
 
Campbell-Turkalj and King had looks on net over the next 10 minutes before the Huskies were able to take the lead.
 
In the 57^th minute, Campbell-Turkalj found Zipse all alone 25 yards from goal and Zipse fired a shot past a diving Holland to give NIU the lead.
 
The Huskies controlled the play for the remainder of the match and kept EMU from any great looks at net.
 
In the 87^th minute, Campbell-Turkalj rocketed a ball from outside of the box towards the top right corner that was only denied by an impressive diving save by Holland.
 
Zipse's goal was the first career tally for the fifth-year, graduate student captain. Struble's goal was her third of the season and Campbell-Turkalj earned the second assist of her freshman season. 
 
NIU returns to action on Thursday, Oct. 24 with a road trip to take on Ball State. The match is set for a 3 p.m. CT kickoff. NIU will return home at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 against Toledo for Senior Day.
 
-- NIU --