Women’s soccer winds down regular season

By Krystal Ward

DeKALB | Women’s soccer (4-8-4, 3-4-2 Mid-American Conference) fell to the University of Toledo Rockets (7-9-1, 2-6-1 MAC) 1-0 Thursday on a game-winning goal in double overtime by Rockets’ junior midfielder Isa Echeverri.

NIU sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Lee made her second start of the season because of an injury junior goalkeeper Amy Annala suffered Oct. 16 against the University of Buffalo. Lee made nine saves in 104 minutes before Toledo scored the game-winning goal. The goal came off the head of Echeverrion a corner kick taken by Rockets’ senior forward Kierseten Johnson.

The Huskies had a couple of chances to put a goal in but just missed the target. Junior midfielder Allie Ingham almost scored on a header close to the end of regulation, and freshman midfielder Kelsey Chope launched a shot that Toledo sophomore goalkeeper Katie Wilson saved over the crossbar with 15 seconds left in the first overtime.

“Mackenzie had a great game, she was focused and ready to go,” Head Coach John Ross said. “She made a couple of big saves throughout the game, and her biggest save came right before the goal on the play that gave them the corner.”

The Huskies’ final regular season match is 2 p.m. Thursday at Western Michigan University before the MAC quarterfinals begin Sunday. The top eight teams will qualify for the tournament.