Aug. 28, 2011

BOX SCORE

DEKALB, Ill. - The North Illinois women's soccer team controlled the stat sheet against North Dakota this afternoon in the NIU Tourney finale, but, the Fighting Sioux were able to score two second half goals and defeat the Huskies, 2-0.

"We did a good job today of creating more scoring chances," said Head Coach Carrie Barker, "we were just unable to finish them today. We statistically led a majority of the contest, but soccer is a funny sport, in that it only takes one or two chances to impact the outcome or the winner of the game."

All told, the Huskies outshot the Sioux 14-8, including an impressive count of 10 in the second half and led in corner kicks, 6-2.

Senior Becca Ford started the contest up top on the attack and posted three shots, two on goal, including a great one-on-one chance with UND's keeper. Another sailed just wide of the goal and beat the North Dakota netminder.

Ford's classmate Kelsey Passaglia struck a hard roller and missed the inside of the post by six inches. The difference in distance would have tied the contest with 13 minutes remaining, after UND's Rachael Loomis scored in the 57th minute of play.

Sophomore Courtney Ksiazek also contributed to the scoring chances with three shots in the match. The product of Naperville, Ill. fired a laser shot 35 feet from the end line that looked to be sailing high of the crossbar before he ball quickly dropped and fired down off the crossbar, flirting with the end line and a Huskie lead in the 21st minute of the contest.

North Dakota goalkeeper Kristi Hestdalen was a key figure for the Fighting Sioux, making saves in the match, many of which were smothered on the dive and thwarted NIU's attack. The freshman from Pierre, S.D. recorded 17 saves between the pipes.

Northern Illinois will return to action Friday Sept. 2 at Illinois State and is slated to begin at 4 p.m. The Huskies return home Sept. 4 against Northern Iowa, with a 1 p.m. kickoff