Finlandia (Mich.) University scored two goals just over four minutes apart in the second half, and it was the difference as the Lakeland University women's soccer team was defeated 2-0 on a sunny Saturday morning at Taylor Field.

The Lions' Kirsten L'Esperance scored the first goal and then assisted on the second just 4 minutes, 10 seconds later, giving the guests a two-goal lead in the 57th minute that they would not relinquish. Finlandia defeated Lakeland for the first time in eight all-time meetings, while the Muskies dropped their second straight match this week and are now 3-3-1 overall.

Lakeland was unable to break through despite several quality chances, especially in the game's late stages. Lions goalkeeper Haley Makela made eight saves, and Lakeland also had shots go off the crossbar and the post.

The Muskies' best opportunity in an evenly played first half came when Karisa Rowland (Jr.-Peoria, Ariz.) fired a shot from 25 yards out on the right side that bent but hit off the crossbar and bounced out of play.

Lakeland had a good chance just three minutes into the second half when Grace Daehling (So.-Sun Prairie, Wis.) shot from the right side of the penalty area, only for Makela to make a tumbling, one-handed save going to her right.

The Lions soon put up the match's first goal less than four minutes later, though. Addie Budzinski looped a pass across from the right win to L'Esperance on the run, and the ball bounced off the head of a Muskies defender and to L'Esperance, who beat goalkeeper Erin Tomlinson (Fr.-Madison, Wis.) one-on-one to open the scoring.

Finlandia (3-1 overall) would add another goal soon after in similar fashion. From the midfield, L'Esperance passed the ball through the defense to Alexia Gonzales, giving her a one-on-one with Tomlinson, and she put it in the back right corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Lakeland slowly started to tilt the field in the late going, getting several quality chances. Emely Ortega (Fr.-South Beloit, Ill.) caught a pass from Hope Cerney (So.-Green Bay, Wis.) on the right side just outside the penalty box, turned and shot only for Makela to make the save in the 82nd minute, and Cerney would have a pair of golden chances a few minutes later. Free on the left side, she hit the upper left corner post and crossbar in the 85th minute, and just over a minute later had another hard shot from the left at the near post that Makela snagged.

Both teams finished with 13 shot attempts and eight shots on goal. Tomlinson made six saves for the Muskies.

The Muskies are home again Sunday when they welcome Blackburn (Ill.) College for a 1 p.m. start at Taylor Field.