Once again the Lakeland College women's soccer team put a scare into Benedictine (Ill.) University late but couldn't quite complete a comeback in falling by a 2-1 score Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match.

The Muskies lost to the Eagles at home by a 2-1 score for the second consecutive year. Just as it did last year, Lakeland fought back from a two-goal deficit with a late goal and a flurry in the final minutes that came up just short at the end.

The Muskies (3-8 overall, 1-3 NACC) cut a 2-0 deficit in half in the 67th minute when Mimi Pulido (So.-Sheboygan, Wis.) converted a penalty kick after a penalty in the box on the Eagles (6-5 overall, 3-1 NACC). The goal was the 11th of the season for Pulido, who continues to rank second in the conference goals scored this season.

Lakeland was outshot 17-8 for the match, but Benedictine's earlier domination of possession disappeared in the late going. The Muskies recorded six of their eight shot attempts in the last 24 minutes, and Pulido had two more golden chances after her goal, first hitting the crossbar with 7:40 to play and then ticketing a free kick for the top corner with 30 seconds left that Eagles goalkeeper Maddie Frye had to deflect away.

The guests scored both of their goals just 1:22 apart in the first half. Taylor Pokorny scored both, the first with an assist from Mari Winkler and the second with help from Zoie Holloway.

Pulido (six shot attempts) and Taryn Allen (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) combined for all eight shot attempts for Lakeland. Melissa Noll (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) and Jessica Carter (Sr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) shared time in goal, with Noll making six saves in the first half and Carter adding three in the second half.

The Muskies are right back in action again Sunday when they travel to face Rockford (Ill.) University for a non-conference game at 3:30 p.m.