Over the weekend, NIU women’s soccer split the first two games of its three-game Ohio road trip to finish MAC play. It picked up a win at Kent State and lost to Ohio.

Two streaks ended in the Friday match between NIU and Kent State. The Huskies (7-8-2, 3-5-2 MAC) ended their three-match losing streak and stopped the Golden Flashes’ (11-4-2, 6-3-1 MAC) four-match winning streak with a 1-0 win.

In the first 45 minutes, the Huskies could not get anything going offensively. NIU was outshot 4-0 in the first half and junior goalkeeper Amy Carr had to make two saves to keep the game scoreless.

After halftime, the Golden Flashes continued their offensive assault; however, Carr continued making key saves to keep her team in the match.

NIU coach John Ross said Carr was a big reason why the Huskies came out with three points Friday.

“She was real important,” Ross said. “She dominated the goal box and really, that was the difference in the day. You know, she came up with a couple big saves, but when she can come out and control her area that gives our defenders the ability to step up and take away some other things and from there we’re tough to score on.”

Two freshmen combined on the only goal of the game in the 71st minute. Forward/midfielder Kate Wirthlin scored her second goal of the season after a nice ball from forward Nicole Gobbo. Wirthlin one-timed a shot from 10 yards out to give NIU the lead with 19 minutes remaining.

Carr finished with eight saves in the victory. The win is her sixth clean sheet on the season.

Carr said the defense deserves some of the credit for the shutout.

“I think the defenders worked hard to get their body in front of the ball, which gave me the opportunity to have the advantage and know where their shots were going,” Carr said.

Sunday, despite registering 17 shots compared to the Bobcats’ 10, the Huskies fell 1-0 to Ohio (8-8-2, 3-5-1 MAC)

In the 62nd minute, the Bobcats scored the only goal of the day, as senior midfielder Cathryn Rogers scored her seventh goal of the season off a free kick taken by sophomore midfielder Erin Feeney.

NIU continued to pressure the Bobcats, who withstood the Huskies’ onslaught and held on to the victory.

The Huskies outshot Ohio 11-4 in the second 45 minutes; however, only three of those 11 shots were on frame.

Ross said his team has to be smarter with the ball.

“I think, you know, we just have to make better decisions,” Ross said. “Just be more decisive with the ball, so if were going to take somebody on, go immediately. If were gonna shoot, make sure we got our momentum going forward to shoot.”