PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's soccer team closed out its season with one of its best efforts of the year before dropping a 3-0 decision to Concordia University Wisconsin Wednesday night at Taylor Field.

The Muskies were within a goal into the 85th minute and gave the Falcons all they could handle as they tried to wrap up a share of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference regular season title. Lakeland gave Concordia one of its toughest battles of the season in conference play before falling to finish its season with a 2-15 overall record and a 2-11 mark in the NACC.

The Muskies played with a limited roster due to injuries and were coming off a 7-0 loss to Illinois Tech on Senior Day Saturday in which the Scarlet Hawks scored three goals in the first 7 minutes, 16 seconds and five times in the first 24:41. Lakeland played Concordia (14-3 overall, 12-1 NACC) even for longer on Wednesday, until the Falcons scored the first goal late in the 25th minute when Sheridan Dorge sent a long pass up ahead to forward Isabel Downs, who got behind the defense and eventually scored from 10 yards out inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.

The score stayed that way until halftime, and after not generating a shot in the first half the Muskies came out strong to start the second half. Lakeland controlled the first five minutes and got off three shots, including a golden opportunity after Riley Jahnke (So.-Howards Grove, Wis.) came up from the back line to win a goal kick and sent it ahead to Marlen Reyes Robelo (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) who was onside and had a one-on-one with goalkeeper Kaeley Sterkel but shot just high.

The Muskies stayed in it with excellent goal play from Haley Rich (Jr.-West Chicago, Ill.), who made eight saves and frequently made strong plays to quash CUW through balls. Lakeland had another good chance in the 67th minute when a corner kick served by Hope Cerney (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) got to the far post and was nearly deflected in by a defender.

Concordia finally scored a second goal with 5:38 left in the second half, as Rich made an outstanding stop of a first shot by Sabrina Moore but Selena Esten was in position to put the rebound into the net for her 22nd goal of the season.

The Muskies still weren't done threatening, and had their best chance in the 87th minute when Cerney won a header in the Falcons end that went to Virginia Perez (Fr.-Milwaukee, Wis.), who turned a drilled a bending shot that was ticketed for just inside the right post before Sterkel made a diving stop to deflect it away. Lakeland had another shot on Cerney's ensuing corner kick, which came right to Perez in the center of the box, but the freshman forward's redirect in the air went just wide left of the frame.

Concordia added a final goal with 54 seconds left in the match, when Jordan Lafferty chipped a pass ahead to Downs, who beat Rich to the ball and tapped it into the net for her second goal.

The Falcons finished outshooting Lakeland 20-6, with Esten finishing with eight shots but just two on goal and Downs adding five shots. Perez took three of the Muskies' six shots.

The match was the final one for five Lakeland seniors, including Cerney, Skylar Garza (Sr.-Hartford, Wis.), Abby Gastrau (Sr.-Hubertus, Wis.), Erin Tomlinson (Sr.-Madison, Wis.) plus Tracey Sery (Sr.-Big Bend, Wis.), who was out for the season due to injury. The four healthy seniors all started and played significant roles in the Muskies' effort.