DeKalb, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's soccer team rolled past St. Thomas in the Huskies 2024 season opener on Thursday (Aug. 22). Goals from Kelsi McLaughlin (Greenfield, Ind./Illinois State), Lea Gruennagel (Homburg, Germany/ Intergrierte Gesamtschule Contwig), Aubrey Robertson (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) from the penalty spot and Chantelle Parker (Milton, Ontario/Pittsburgh) sealed the Huskies first win of 2024.
 
"I'm delighted with the win," head coach Michael O'Neill said. "I felt like it wasn't a true 4-1 scoreline with as good of an effort as St. Thomas gave. I'm happy to score four scrappy and well-earned goals. We will reflect as we prepare for Southern Indiana but I'm just happy to see their efforts come to fruition with this first win."
 
In the 19^th minute, McLaughlin scored the Huskies first goal of 2024 and her first as a Huskie. A corner kick from Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj (Kitchener, Ontario) crossed the ball into the box to Robertson. Robertson flicked it deep into the box to Gruennagel who got it right near the line where McLaughlin tucked it in goal in a scramble with multiple St. Thomas defenders.
 
"Scrappy goals are the ones I enjoy the most, because they're the well-earned ones," O'Neill said. "Being in the right place at the right time is great to see. I'm happy for the goal scorers, and we would have loved a shutout but I thought (goalkeeper) Abi (Dolding) did fantastic for the first game of her career."
 
St. Thomas (0-1-1) evened up the match in the 24^th minute as Lexi Huber scored from just outside of the box on an assist from Lissa Mizutani.
 
"I thought St. Thomas responded to the first goal well, credit to them for their response and grit," said O'Neill. "They are an organized group and made us reassess our options going into the middle third. We stood firm, we talked about adversity, and we overcame that today. We will face these moments again so this can be used as a foundation moving forward."
 
The Huskies retook the lead in the 67^th minute as Gruennagel received the ball from Tyra King (Naperville, Ill./Matea Valley) before scoring from way out of the box on the left as she placed the ball perfectly in the corner of the goal over the reach of the St. Thomas goalkeeper Olivia Rowe.
 
NIU (1-0-1) quickly took control again and had the ball in the Tommies' box as McLaughlin rocketed a shot on goal after getting behind Rowe, Abby Brantner used her arms to keep the ball out and was given a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
 
Robertson then took the penalty and placed it perfectly in the bottom left corner, just outside of the keeper's reach.
 
In the final 22 minutes, NIU played up a player after the red card and the Huskies controlled the tempo, before once again finding the net in the 84^th minute. Chantelle Parker scored her first goal as a Huskie when Reegan Kingpavong's (Rockford, Ill./Guilford) corner found Parker near the goal line for the finish.
 
NIU's four goals is the most in a game for the Huskies since Aug. 26, 2021, when NIU defeated Chicago State, 4-1.
 
Abi Dolding (Hastings, England) earned the win in goal and made six saves, while allowing just one goal in her first collegiate match. Rowe took the loss, allowing three goals in 80 minutes with the final goal being scored against backup keeper Kendell Ellis.
 
The Huskies and Tommies both had seven shots on goal in the match.
 
NIU returns to action next Thursday, Aug. 29, as they host Southern Indiana. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Admission is always free for NIU Soccer.
 
-- NIU --