ROCKFORD, Ill. – Marlen Reyes (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) and Malaya Sperber (Fr.-Grafton, Wis.) scored goals to stake a lead and the Lakeland University women's soccer team broke back into the win column with a 2-1 victory over Rockford University Sunday afternoon.

The Muskies after so many near misses finally snapped a 12-game winless streak, a stretch that included three ties plus three more losses by two goals or less. Lakeland won for the first time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play, improving to 2-10-3 overall and 1-7-3 in conference heading into its season finale against Concordia University Wisconsin Wednesday.

The Muskies scored the match's first two goals, including breaking the ice with the first goal with less than six minutes remaining in the first half. A throw-in from Rockford's end quickly became an opportunity, with the throw-in by Emily Guy (So.-Glendale Heights, Ill.) bouncing to Jenna Caterino (Sr.-Stanton, Mich.) open near midfield. Caterino sent a ball ahead that Elizabeth Brown (Fr.-Seymour, Wis.) won and chipped further, and Reyes got to the ball after a misplay by a Regents defender. The senior forward then from 15 yards out hit a left-footed shot on the ground out of reach of Rockford goalkeeper Kaeleigh Taylor and inside the right post to make it 1-0.

Lakeland's second goal came in the second half in the 60th minute, as a Rockford threat quickly turned into a fast break in the other direction. Lia Armstrong (So.-Fort Wayne, Ind.) blocked a shot by the Regents, and Alondra Reyes (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.) got to the ball and lofted a pass ahead to sister Marlen Reyes. She was quickly joined by three others sprinting ahead in a wave, and Marlen Reyes sent a pass behind the defense down the left side that Chloe Bartlett (So.-Canton, Ill.) ran onto. Bartlett then centered a pass to Sperber, who with one touch poked the ball past Taylor from 10 yards out for her team-leading fourth goal of the season.

The Muskies maintained a two-goal lead until the 75th minute. A Rockford throw-in bounced around and eventually landed between four Lakeland players. Peyton Scott won the ball for the Regents and sent a short pass to Daisy Martinez. The Rockford forward took two touches and from 28 yards out lofted a high shot that went just over the head of Lakeland goalkeeper Ingrid Steinbock (Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) to cut the Muskies' lead to 2-1.

The Regents (3-12-2 overall, 0-10-1 NACC) had several more opportunities the rest of the way, but Steinbock made a save on a soft shot in the 83rd minute and Lakeland fought off two corner kicks in the final 2 1/2 minutes to preserve the win. The final came with 15 seconds left, a rushed attempt that Steinbock smothered to close out the victory.

The Muskies finished with a 16-12 advantage in shot attempts, including a 10-3 lead in the first half before Rockford outshot Lakeland 9-6 in the second half. Sperber, Marlen Reyes and Addison Weed (Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.) led with four shots each while Steinbock made six saves in goal.

Lakeland is in action for the final time this season Wednesday when it hosts Concordia University Wisconsin at 7 p.m. at Taylor Field.