PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University women's soccer team hung tough early and made a late rally but ran out of time in a 2-1 loss to Aurora University Saturday at Taylor Field.
The Muskies scored in the 73rd minute to halve a two-goal Aurora lead but came up short in dropping to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play. The Spartans won the battle of winless teams and improved to 1-5-2 and 1-2-1 in the NACC.
Lakeland and Aurora played a scoreless first half before the Spartans scored twice in the second half, including the match's first goal in the 54th minute. An attempted header inside the Muskies' box went towards the goal to Aurora's Jessica Mirsky between five Lakeland players. Mirsky scooted to the ball and punched it past goalkeeper
Haley Rich (
Jr.-West Chicago, Ill.) inside the left post for the match's opening goal.
The Spartans added a second goal at 68:46 of the match, when Megan Daugherty served a pass to defender Miranda Devan, who ran on and blasted a shot from 25 yards out into the net for a 2-0 lead. Down but not out, the Muskies took advantage of an opportunity less than four minutes later.
An Aurora yellow card in front of the Lakeland bench set up the Muskies with a free kick in the opponents' end, and the ball towards the box hit a Spartan defender's hand, setting up a penalty kick.
Hope Cerney (
Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) converted the kick for her first goal of the season and ninth career tally, drawing Lakeland back within a goal.
The Muskies were unable to get another shot off the rest of the way. Aurora held the ball in the corner for much of the final minute, leaving Lakeland no time for a counter in the final seconds.
The Muskies' best sustained offensive attack came early in the match. Consecutive corner kicks included a header by
Roza Bonner (
Fr.-Williamston, Mich.) wide of the goal in the 11th minute, and
Faith Turley (
So.-Lincoln, Ill.) hit a free kick just over two minutes later that was ticketed for just inside the crossbar and Aurora goalkeeper Kelsey Deck had to squeeze above her head.
Aurora finished with an 18-4 advantage in shot attempts and also added 11 corner kicks. Rich made seven saves in goal while Deck made two saves for the Spartans.
Lakeland is back home Wednesday when it hosts Concordia University Chicago for a 7 p.m. kick at Taylor Field.
