RIPON – Ripon College scored twice in the second half to gain some space in a close game and eventually defeat the Lakeland College women's soccer team 4-1 Thursday evening in a non-conference match.
The Red Hawks scored the final three goals of the match and defeated the Muskies for the sixth straight year. Ripon is now 5-3-1 overall, while Lakeland saw its brief two-game winning streak end and dropped to 3-5.
The host Red Hawks controlled the majority of the possession, outshooting the Muskies 27-9. Lakeland hung in nicely in the first half, though, despite being outshot 14-2, and even responded after an early Ripon goal to tie the match in the 33rd minute on an own goal by the Red Hawks.
Ripon rallied to score again before halftime as Paige Birschbach tallied unassisted, and the Red Hawks then added a pair of insurance goals in the second half. Danielle Senger was assisted by Birschbach in the 55th minute, and then Birschbach scored her second goal of the match with a header off a corner kick at 67:35 to end the scoring.
Mimi Pulido (
Sheboygan, Wis.) accounted for much of the Lakeland offense, generating seven shots (six on goal).
Tiffany Fischer (
So.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) and
Kelly Jens (
Sr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) also added one shot attempt each.
Jessica Carter (
Sr.-Schaumburg, Ill.) played in goal and made 13 saves for Lakeland. The Muskies now have not defeated Ripon since a 2-1 double-overtime victory on Sept. 30, 2009.
The Muskies are back in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play on Saturday when they travel to face Dominican (Ill.) University in River Forest, Ill., at 2:30 p.m.
