DEKALB, Ill. – A pair of early goals helped lead Marquette past the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team, 2-0, on Thursday evening (Aug. 14) at the NIU Soccer Complex in the season opener for both teams. Josie Bieda and Adrianna Alberts both found the net in the opening 23 minutes to help give the Golden Eagles the win.

"The first 20 minutes were not good enough," said NIU head coach Michael O'Neill. "Defensively I though we lacked a lot of focus. Our organization wasn't as good as it should have been, and good teams are going to punish you. Marquette took their opportunities; we were 2-0 down and then we started to play. 

"End of the first half and the whole of the second half, we got tired of course, but I thought we were the better team. We played some good stuff, got into the 18-yard box numerous times with good platform to play. I can't fault the energy and effort for the second 45 minutes but when you leave yourself a mountain to climb it is always going to be difficult against good teams that know how to defend."

Marquette opened the scoring less than four minutes into the contest as Megan Murray played in Bieda down the right wing and Bieda slipped a low shot past NIU goalkeeper Morgan Lucich (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Trabuco Hills) to give the visitors an early lead. 

The Golden Eagles doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute as Carly Christopher's deep cross from the right side glanced off Murray in the box and fell to Alberts who headed past Lucich to give Marquette a 2-0 lead. 

NIU nearly struck back just three minutes later from a free kick as Zoe McLauchlan's (Gatineau, Quebec/Collège Nouvelles Frontières) effort went just over the crossbar. McLauchlan had another chance in the 28th minute off a Huskie corner kick as she rose highest for a header near the top of the six-yard box but couldn't direct her header on target.

After the intermission, NIU enjoyed more of the possession and had an immediate chance as Tyra King (Menifee, Calif./Metea Valley) saw her shot from a tight angle saved in the 47th minute. 

The Huskies continued to press for the entire second 45 minutes and Aubrey Robertson (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) nearly got on the scoresheet in the final minute with a header that beat Marquette goalkeeper Hailey Wade, but a Golden Eagle defender headed the ball off the final as the visitors preserved their clean sheet. 

NIU will be back in action on Sunday, Aug. 17, when the Huskies host DePaul. Kickoff against the Blue Demons is slated for 7 p.m.