Second Half Performance Lifts Leathernecks Past Huskies

Goals from Sarah Hall and Nicole Beer gave Western a 2-0 victory on Sunday (Aug. 24).

Box Score
MACOMB, Ill. - A strong second half performance propelled Western Illinois women's soccer past Northern Illinois on Sunday (Aug. 24). Goals from Sarah Hall and Nicole Beer gave the Fighting Leathernecks (1-1) its first win of the 2014 season, as they defeated the Huskies 2-0.

"It was a much better performance than Friday" said head coach Ted Flogaites. "Every player played well today and that's the way to play the game the proper way. On the day, I thought we were the better squad whereas at Kent State we weren't. Sarah Wright had maybe the best game of her career and I don't think Lindsay Condon made a mistake at all today."

Western Illinois applied pressure from the opening whistle and it nearly paid off in the ninth minute of play, but Sarah Wright was denied by the Huskie goalkeeper, leading to a Leatherneck corner. From the corner, Carly Hoffman's header was saved, keeping the match scoreless.

Northern Illinois settled into the match, forcing Victoria Kappel to make her only save in the 14th minute.

Heading into the second half, Northern Illinois held a slim margin in the shot category, but Western Illinois outshot the Huskies 17-to-three in the second half.

"We talked about the heat and we knew it was going to be a battle of attrition," Flogaites said. "If you're not used to the heat and we aren't due to all the rain, you have to be more economical with the ball. We played quicker so the heat wasn't as much of a factor."

In the opening seven minutes of the second half, the Leathernecks produced six shots. Hall had an opportunity to put Western in front after 63 minutes but was denied twice by the Northern Illinois goalkeeper, who also prevented Skyler Jessop from scoring just moments prior. The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when Mary Anderson slipped a through ball into Hall who beat her mark and found the far corner of the net to put Western in front 1-0.

Ten minutes later, the Leathernecks doubled their lead. Amy Bennett's corner ended up at the feet of Lindsey Kuitse who played the ball on one touch to Nicole Beer just a few yards away. Beer's shot found the back of the net for her first goal as a Leatherneck.

"I was really excited," Beer said. "I got the ball and tried to find the back of the net. Lindsey played a great ball to me and I found the corner. It was great to get my first goal at home."

"People may have missed it, but the layoff from Kuitse to Beer was phenomenal," Flogaites said. "It was a two-yard layoff at a little angle, Nicole put the ball where the keeper wasn't."

Western Illinois finished off the match, defending two corners and blocking a pair of shots, completing the shutout victory.

The Leathernecks hit the road for three consecutive matches, beginning with a contest against Loyola-Chicago on Friday (Aug. 29) at 7:00 p.m. in Chicago.

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Players Mentioned

#0 Victoria Kappel: GK; 5' 10"; Junior; Carl Sandburg

#27 Mary Anderson: M; 5' 6"; Freshman; Thomas B. Doherty

#26 Amy Bennett: M; 5' 5"; Senior; Catholic Memorial

#22 Lindsay Condon: D; 5' 5"; Senior; Joliet Catholic

#18 Sarah Hall: F; 5' 10"; Senior; St. Joseph's

#12 Sarah Wright: M; 5' 4"; Senior; Rochester

#21 Lindsey Kuitse: F; 5' 6"; Junior; St. Joseph's

#33 Skyler Jessop: M/F; 5' 9"; Junior; Grayslake Central

#15 Nicole Beer: D; 5' 8"; Freshman; Elkhorn South

#16 Carly Hoffman: D; 5' 9"; Freshman; Waukesha West

Players Mentioned

#0 Victoria Kappel
: 5' 10"; Junior; Carl Sandburg
: GK

#27 Mary Anderson
: 5' 6"; Freshman; Thomas B. Doherty
: M

#26 Amy Bennett
: 5' 5"; Senior; Catholic Memorial
: M

#22 Lindsay Condon
: 5' 5"; Senior; Joliet Catholic
: D

#18 Sarah Hall
: 5' 10"; Senior; St. Joseph's
: F

#12 Sarah Wright
: 5' 4"; Senior; Rochester
: M

#21 Lindsey Kuitse
: 5' 6"; Junior; St. Joseph's
: F

#33 Skyler Jessop
: 5' 9"; Junior; Grayslake Central
: M/F

#15 Nicole Beer
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Elkhorn South
: D

#16 Carly Hoffman
: 5' 9"; Freshman; Waukesha West
: D