Box Score Lawrence 3 Lakeland 1

Lawrence University gained the upper hand with two goals less than two minutes apart early in the second half and the Lakeland University women's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision in a rainy home opener Friday afternoon at Taylor Field.

The Muskies scored their first goal of the season and were tied going into halftime, but the Vikings struck quickly and continued their long-running mastery of the Muskies. With the win Lawrence improved to 12-0 all-time against Lakeland.

The shorthanded Muskies (0-2 overall) rebounded from an early Vikings goal to play respectably throughout, including a draw-even goal late in the first half.

Lakeland fell behind 1-0 just 5 minutes, 3 seconds into the match after a foul in the box resulted in a Lawrence penalty kick converted by Cambrie Rickard. The teams would trade chances the rest of the half, though, with forwards Virginia Perez (Fr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Roza Bonner (Fr.-Williamston, Mich.) both getting chances, and the Muskies' persistence was rewarded late in the half in the 43rd minute.

Hope Cerney (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis.) threw the ball in from deep in the Lawrence end, and a misdirected header by a Lawrence defender was won by Perez, who fended off three players for the ball near the left post. Perez centered the ball to Hanna Brouch (Fr.-Kaukauna, Wis.), who was in the right place and converted for her first collegiate goal.

The tie score at halftime didn't last long into the second half. Lawrence took the lead back at 48:27 of the match, after Rickard hit a long ball from past midfield ahead to Samantha Tolu, who then beat a Muskies defender and from the left side scored inside the left post from 15 yards out for a 2-1 lead.

The Vikings would tack on another goal just 1:51 later. A cross in front of the goal pinballed around to Madi Jones and then to Rickard, who turned and hit a skidder on the ground from 13 yards just under the right arm of goalkeeper Haley Rich (Jr.-West Chicago, Ill.) for a 3-1 lead.

Lakeland would have few chances the rest of the way, with just one shot the rest of the match when Marlen Reyes Robelo (So.-Milwaukee, Wis.) ran onto a shot from 25 yards out that Lawrence keeper Sarah Yochem stopped in the 55th minute.

Perez led the Muskies offensively with three shot attempts as well as her first collegiate assist. Rich made 10 saves in goal in her first start of the season.

Lakeland's match Sunday at the University of Wisconsin-Superior has been canceled. The Muskies' next match will be Wednesday when they travel to face UW-Oshkosh at 7 p.m. in Oshkosh.