It took a pair of overtimes, but women’s soccer got off to its best start in conference play since 1998.

The Huskies (4-6, 2-0 MAC) beat the Central Michigan Chippewas, 2-1, Friday in Mount Pleasant, Mich. NIU then beat the Toledo Rockets, 2-1, Sunday in Toledo, Ohio. Both games saw the Huskies get the win in overtime.

Friday’s victory was the Huskies’ first road win since Oct. 25, 2012, ending a stretch of 15 road games without a win. It was also NIU’s first win in a MAC opener since 2008.

“I think it was definitely a boost in the right direction,” said freshman Lauren Gierman. “Hopefully we can keep winning on the road.”

Central Michigan

The Huskies got on the board first against the Chippewas. In the 12th minute, Gierman took a pass from junior Emily Nulty and fired off a strike from 25 yards out that found the back of the net.

The Huskies’ lead was short-lived, as the Chippewas responded in the 35th minute. Kaelyn Korte headed in a shot in the box that got past freshman Amy Annala. Annala went on to make eight saves, including a pair of huge saves in the final minutes of the match to send it to overtime.

NIU only needed a minute of extra time to take home the win. Gierman was fouled by CMU’s Kaylin Hoomaian in the box. On the subsequent free kick, Gierman scored the game-winner.

Head coach John Ross said the Huskies showed great effort and got the win they deserved.

“We did well on dead balls,” Ross said. “When they got it to the back line, the back line was excellent. The shots they got off weren’t from great places and the defense made sure of that. But, it was a team effort. It starts with the forwards, who did well defending, and then the midfield was wining the ball a lot. Then the backline stepped up.

“Anything that got to Amy [Annala], she took care of. She’s feeling really confident.”

Toledo

Defense ruled the first half of the game against Toledo. There were plenty of opportunities, but neither team could find the back of the net.

The Rockets got on the board first in the 52nd minute when Alexis Tice headed in a corner kick. After the goal, Toledo tried to push its attack, but Annala made three saves in quick succession to put the offense on ice. Sophomore Haley Cummings put in the equalizer off a cross from freshman Allie Ingham in the 75th minute.

When regulation and the first half of overtime wasn’t enough to find a winner, the Huskies took advantage of a foul, setting up a game-winning goal on a penalty kick for senior Allie McBride. It was her second goal on a penalty kick this season.

“We struggled early in the year on the road,” McBride said. “This win, it really shows we can go any day and play anyone and win. The sky’s the limit with our potential.”