PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Mikayla Belasco (Fr.-Muskegon, Mich.) scored on a penalty kick early in the second half and the Lakeland University women's soccer team picked up a good Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win with a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College Wednesday night at Taylor Field.

Faith Turley (Sr.-Lincoln, Ill.) made seven saves to earn the shutout and the Muskies won for the first time in conference play this year, improving to 5-8 overall and 1-6 in the NACC. Lakeland also defeated Wisconsin Lutheran for the first time since 2016, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Warriors.

The Muskies displayed a composed effort the whole way, including excellent play in goal by Turley, strong work in the midfield and even a number of good counter attacks. Lakeland also shut down the NACC's top scorer, as WLC's Brooke Bluhm entered with a conference-best 11 goals scored but was held to just one shot attempt in the match.

The Muskies scored the match's only goal in the 59th minute, drawing a handball in the box for the penalty kick opportunity. A foul near midfield-just the second foul of the game on Lutheran-gave Lakeland a free kick near midfield. Aimee Hild (Sr.-Plano, Ill.) struck the kick right of the goal, and it contacted a Warriors defender on the arm, quickly drawing a stoppage and the awarding of a penalty kick.

Belasco took the shot for her first penalty kick of the season, and easily converted the kick into the left side of the goal while goalkeeper Christian Casimir dove the opposite direction. Belasco's goal was her third of the season and gave Lakeland a lead in a conference match for the first time this season.

The Muskies had several nervous moments in the match, most coming in the second half including Turley making four saves in the first 20 minutes of the half, including knocking away a shot by Katie Wasiak in the 64th minute to preserve the lead. Wisconsin Lutheran appeared to have tied the match in the 72nd minute when Ella Miller crossed a ball in front of the goal that Bluhm buried in the net inside the crossbar, but offsides was called on the play to keep the Muskies with a 1-0 lead.

The Warriors would have three more corner kicks in the final 18 minutes, including one with 16 seconds left in the match, but Abby Runkel (Jr.-Burlington, Wis.) headed the kick away and Hild kicked it towards the sideline, with time running out before Lutheran could get another chance. Lakeland held WLC without a shot in the final 24 minutes, and even mounted several attacks in the late going, with forward Alondra Reyes (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) working with sister Marlen Reyes (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.), fellow forwards Chloe Bartlett (Fr.-Canton, Ill.) and Gwynn Apostolik (Fr.-New Castle, Colo.) and others to keep possession and push the ball further towards the Warriors goal.

Wisconsin Lutheran finished with a 20-10 advantage in shot attempts, including 11-2 in the first half. Just two of those shots were on goal, though, as Lakeland largely kept play in the midfield in a scoreless first half.

Turley made two saves in the first half and five in the second half to earn her second shutout of the season. Alondra Reyes attempted four shots and Belasco added three shots to lead the offensive attack.

Katie Wasiak came up from her midfield spot and attempted 10 of WLC's 20 shots, including four shots on goal. The Warriors also attempted 12 corner kicks that the Muskies regularly cleared, led by the defense including Hild, Runkel, Gwynn Manteufel (Jr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) and Ellie Rau (Sr.-West Allis, Wis.).

Lakeland is home again Saturday when it hosts Illinois Institute of Technology at 1 p.m. at Taylor Field.