DEKALB, Ill. – Two goals in the final 15 minutes gave Detroit Mercy a 2-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 15) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Avery Mondoux netted both goals for the visitors who claimed the road win despite being outshot, 13-5.
"Extremely disappointed with the result," said NIU head coach
Michael O'Neill. "Performance-wise, it wasn't our best by any stretch of the imagination. We started quite flat, I thought we could be better, more tempo on the ball. Unfortunately, that came back to bite us, not getting a goal, not pushing the game, (Detroit Mercy) was always in it and then they get a late goal and that changes things."
NIU (3-7-3, 2-4-1 Horizon) recorded all seven shots in the game's opening 45 minutes.
Abby Foulk (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) had the best opportunity of the first half just before the half-hour mark as her shot from just outside the top of the box forced an excellent save from Detroit Mercy goalkeeper Eva Hill.
The Huskies forced Hill into three total saves before halftime.
Just before the hour mark, NIU had a chance as the Huskies played the ball through midfield before
Taite DeLange (Thornton, Colo./Horizon) had possession on the left wing. Her low cross went across the top of the 18-yard box to Foulk on the right side who dragged a shot just wide.
Mondoux finally broke the deadlock 76th minute as a turnover in the middle third led to the chance as Samantha Sackfield chipped the ball into space and Mondoux got a touch ahead of a Huskie defender on the edge of the box before hitting a rising, left-footed shot past
Alexandra Devory (Ruckersville, Va./William Monroe) to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.
As the rainy conditions picked up, Mondoux added a second goal just four minutes later. Borgan Hughes slipped a pass into the path of Mondoux who caught Devory just off her line with a dipping shot from about 30 yards, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
NIU will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 18, when the Huskies host Oakland at 1 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will take place before the match, beginning at approximately 12 noon.
