PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Benedictine University scored three times in the first half to build a lead that was too much for the Lakeland University women's soccer team in a 3-0 loss Saturday evening at John Taylor Memorial Field.
The Muskies gave a credible effort especially in the second half but came up short on their Senior Day. Lakeland dropped its second straight Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match and fell to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in conference this season.
A total of eight members of the Lakeland team were recognized before the game, including
Lia Armstrong (
Fort Wayne, Ind.),
Mikayla Belasco (
Muskegon, Mich.),
Emily Guy (
Glendale Heights, Ill.),
Madie Linka (
Somerset, Wis.),
Ines Rodriguez (
Newark, Calif.),
Malaya Sperber (
Grove, Wis.),
Taytum Theobald (
Howards Grove, Wis.) and
Natalie White (
Portage, Ind.).
The match got underway with considerable rain falling, and the Muskies had the first shot on goal, an attempt by Theobald just over three minutes in, but the Eagles broke through with the match's first goal in the ninth minute. Emma Lukin's cross got through to Klara Cicha, whose shot somehow found a hole between the post and
Ingrid Steinbock (
Jr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) for a 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez hit the crossbar with a shot in the 26th minute, and just a minute later Belasco had a chance, but another strong free kick by the senior was corralled by Benedictine goalkeeper Ximena Delgado. The Eagles then received a gift at 31 minutes, 6 seconds of the match as an attempt by a Lakeland defender to clear a cross was instead deflected right into the net for an own goal and a 2-0 margin.
Benedictine added one more tally late in the half, as Lily Martinez's pass ahead to Cicha behind the Muskies defense was converted into a goal to make it 3-0. The teams would then play a scoreless second half, with Steinbock making four saves and numerous other strong plays on the ball in the final 45 minutes. Theobald had Lakeland's best chance late, with her shot from the right wing past Delgado went just wide left of the goal.
The Eagles finished with a 16-5 shots advantage, including a 10-3 margin in shots on goal. Theobald paced the Muskies with two shot attempts and Steinbock made seven saves.
Lakeland concludes a five-game homestand when it hosts Marian University this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
