DEKALB, Ill. – A pair of seniors scored in the first half as the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team claimed a 3-0 victory over Oakland on Senior Day Sunday afternoon (Oct. 18) at the NIU Soccer Complex. Seniors
Taite DeLange (Thornton, Colo./Horizon) and
Angelina Briggs (Commerce, Mich./Marian) scored two minutes apart in the first half before
Abbey Kijewski (Nobleton, Ontario/Brill Crothers Secondary) finished the scoring with a second half tally.
"Delighted with the result and performance today," said NIU head coach
Michael O'Neill. "I felt the first 15 minutes (Oakland) was on top; we rode that storm and then Taite's goal, on Senior Day, settled the nerves a little bit and there was no looking back from that first goal. We were dominant in all phases of the game, did well to get a couple more on the board, and maybe could have gotten one or two more in the last 20 or 30 minutes of the game.
"Really proud of the work, really proud that the girls put in a great response from a tough moment on Thursday, onwards and upwards."
The first shot on target for either team came in the 26th minute as an attempt from
Lauren Mrugala (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) was comfortably held by Oakland goalkeeper Maryn Weiger.
NIU (4-7-3, 3-4-1 Horizon) took the lead in the 32nd minute as DeLange scored her first goal as a Huskie.
Lyndsey Miller (Alton, Ill./Alton) forced a turnover and fed a quick ball into the feet of DeLange just inside the box. The Colorado native took the ball on the turn and fired a shot across goal past Weiger from 12 yards to give the Huskies the lead.
The lead was doubled two minutes later when Briggs netted her first collegiate goal. DeLange was fouled about eight yards outside the box and Briggs stepped up to take the free kick, firing a dipping free kick that sailed over the outstretched hand of Weiger and into the back of the net to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj (Kitchener, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) nearly added a third in the 56th minute as her shot rattled the crossbar.
The Huskies added a third in the 76th minute as Kijewski scored the first goal of her collegiate career. Miller and
Jordin Kadiri (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) combined on a one-two about five yards outside the box before Miller slipped the ball into the run of a streaking Kijewski down the right side. After settling the pass with her first touch, Kijewski tucked a low shot inside the far post to give NIU a three-goal advantage.
Freshman goalkeeper
Alexandra Devory (Ruckersville, Va./William Monroe) made four saves in the contest as she picked up her fourth shutout of the season.
NIU will finish the regular season with three-straight games away from home, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 22, when the Huskies travel to Youngstown State. Kickoff against the Penguins is scheduled for 5 p.m.
