DEKALB, Ill. – Allison Raasch scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute as the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team fell, 1-0, to Green Bay on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 19) in the Horizon League opener for both teams at the NIU Soccer Complex.
"Fine margins in the game of soccer," said NIU head coach
Michael O'Neill. "In the second half, I thought we were the better team. We created some good chances, some good momentum. Credit to Green Bay, they did some good things, but I'm proud of my team in terms of how they fought, in tough conditions against a team that is one of only 22 undefeated teams in the nation.
"We knew it would be a tough game, and we stood tall and maybe felt like we deserved more. We are frustrated but there is also a level of optimism that we can play with a team like that and do some good things, so let's build on that and try to turn the result on Thursday."
The first chance of the contest fell to the visitors in the seventh minute as a low cross found Ryann Hafenbrak whose shot was smothered by NIU goalkeeper
Alexandra Devory (Ruckersville, Va./William Monroe). Devory made one more comfortable save minutes later as the only two shots on target in the first half came inside the opening 10 minutes.
In the 55th minute,
Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj (Kitchener, Ontario/Resurrection Catholic) played a ball into the feet of
Taite DeLange (Thornton, Colo./Horizon) all alone in on goal from 25 yards out. DeLange dribbled into the box before a last second tackle from a Green Bay defender denied her the opportunity for a shot as the contest remained scoreless.
Lyndsey Miller (Alton, Ill./Alton) helped create a chance for
Monica Correa (Des Plaines, Ill./Saint Viator) in the 78th minute as Correa's off-balance shot from just outside the box was stopped by Green Bay goalkeeper Anna Scott.
Four minutes later the Phoenix found the breakthrough. Green Bay played corner short to Ava Nielsen who fed Ella Rogowski. Raasch rose highest to meet the flighted ball from Rogowski at the top of the six-yard box, arriving just ahead of Devory to power a headed into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Devory made four saves in the contest for the Huskies; Scott had two stops for the Phoenix. Green Bay improved to 6-0-2 on the season, 1-0 in league play, while NIU fell to 1-4-2 overall, 0-1 in conference action.
The Huskies will return to action on Thursday, Sept. 24, when they host Northern Kentucky at the NIU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission to all Huskie soccer matches is free of charge.
