Box Score Marquette, Mich.—Northern Michigan University Women's Soccer (1-5, 0-0 GLIAC) picked up their first win of 2017, 2-0, with a pair of late goals against Northwood University (2-4, 0-0 GLIAC) Sunday evening.
A balanced first half saw nearly identical numbers for both teams in many categories. The Wildcats took six shots in the opening half to NU's five, but both squads put four on target. Each team recorded a single corner kick, while there were four saves defensively for both teams.
Dominating the offense most of the second half, NMU outshot the Timberwolves 11-4 in the second period. Despite the number of opportunities, the Wildcats were not able to find the back of the net until the 86th minute of play.
In the 83rd minute, a handball in the box resulted in a penalty kick for junior forward Aimee Colla (Muskegon, Wisconsin), but the kick sailed high over the goal. In the 86th, Colla received another chance on a cross from freshman forward Jenna Halonen (Howell, Michigan). Colla was able to get a head on the ball putting it into the goal, giving NMU the late, 1-0, advantage.
It was Halonen's turn for a penalty kick in the 89th minute after a penalty was called in the box. The freshman recorded her team-leading third goal of the season with a shot over the keeper's hands into the next. The 2-0 lead with under a minute to play would be too much for the Timberwolves to overcome, giving the Wildcats their first victory of the season.
NMU held their opponent under 10 shots for the first time in 2017, allowing freshman goalkeeper Brianna Frontuto (Luxemburg, Wisconsin) to record her first career shutout. Frontuto's six saves in the contests brings her season total to 32, fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Wildcats head back onto the road with a pair of conference matchups with Purdue Northwest University and Davenport University. Friday, NMU takes on PNW Friday at 2 p.m. before heading to Davenport Sunday at noon.
