DeKALB | Don’t tell the NIU women’s soccer team that Creighton returned its top three goal scorer’s from last season.

The Huskies dominated defensively Monday evening to take the season opener 1-0 at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex against Creighton. NIU held the Bluejays to only one shot on goal.

After starting her first game for the Huskies, freshman goalkeeper Amy Carr believed the communication between the team was responsible for limiting the Creighton attack.

“We have improved so much in three games, it’s been unbelievable,” Carr said. “We have been able to take tips from each other, tips from [head coach] Carrie [Barker], and we’ve put them all together to improve vastly from our first [exhibition] game.”

Junior forward Kelsey Passaglia scored the only goal of the tilt, when she converted a penalty kick at the 66:44 mark.

“We played our hearts out tonight,” Passaglia said. “That foul in the box [that led to the penalty kick] shows that we can capitalize on other team’s mistakes.”

Barker expressed that the goal belonged to more than just Passaglia.

“Our team created that penalty kick,” Barker said. “So, it was a team effort, and Kelsey took the challenge of putting the pressure on, and showed that she’s a great finisher.”

After the game, Barker was happy to get a win, but even more happy to notch one against a team that she holds in high regard.

“Creighton is a very good team,” Barker said. “We knew it would be a really tough back and forth battle. And for us to start the season with a win against a great program like Creighton is a good way to start.”