PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Charmiss Tucker (So.-Chesapeake, Va.) scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game but Concordia University Wisconsin took advantage of an opportunity early in the second half and defeated the Lakeland University women's soccer team 2-1 Saturday afternoon at John Taylor Memorial Field.

The Muskies gave one of the better teams in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference a battle, falling to the Falcons for the 20th straight time but this time in the closest game in the series since a 3-2 loss back in 2006. Lakeland closed out its season with a loss but still on an up note after finishing 2-13-2 overall and 1-10-1 in the NACC.

The Muskies continued their improvement shown over the final six games of the season, scoring at least one goal for the fifth time in six matches to close the year. This time it was Lakeland recovering after surrendering an early goal when Concordia's Koffy'e Chappel scored just over 3 1/2 minutes into the game.

The Muskies stayed within a goal until the 37th minute, when they were awarded a free kick from near the sideline at a sharp angle left of the 18-yard box. Tucker took the free kick and looped it over CUW goalkeeper Kara Claussen and into the back right of the net for her first goal of the season and first in nearly two years at Lakeland.

The score stayed tied to halftime and into the second half, when Autumn Snow's pass through the defense connected with Chappel, leading her into a one-on-one with goalkeeper Addi Reimer (Fr.-Plymouth, Wis.) which Chappel won to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead.

The Muskies played Concordia (8-7-3 overall, 7-4 NACC) on more even terms in the first half but saw the opportunities dry up for most of the second half. Malaya Sperber (So.-Cedar Grove, Wis.) maneuvered through the defense for a shot from 30 yards out in the 73rd minute that Claussen corralled, but Lakeland had its best chances with just under seven minutes to play in the match.

Mikayla Belasco (Jr.-Muskegon, Mich.) served in a corner kick from the left that Sperber got a header on that bounced but still forced Claussen to make a diving save on the right post. Belasco had a second chance from the opportunity and the ball bounced through the box and over Claussen, then ping-ponged around inside the 18 with Emily Guy (Jr.-Glendale Heights, Ill.) and Alyssa Voigt (So.-New Holstein, Wis.) both having brief looks before Concordia finally cleared. Lakeland had one more budding opportunity in the final seconds, but Sperber was ruled to be offside after receiving a pass in the offensive end with three seconds left.

Sperber finished with five shot attempts, including four on goal. Concordia posted a 20-6 advantage in shot attempts, but Reimer made 13 saves. Claussner made three saves in goal for the Falcons.

The match was the final one for three Lakeland seniors and four-year members of the program: Janae Kilsdonk (Appleton, Wis.), Brianna Love (Sr.-Levittown, Pa.) and Allison Solberg-Kieler (Sr.-Ridgeway, Wis.).