For the fifth consecutive year, the NIU women’s soccer team won its season opener.

The Huskies defeated Georgia Southern 2-0 Sunday and won 1-0 over Eastern Illinois Friday evening.

“It was a great weekend,” said head coach Carrie Barker. “We had four great teams here competing and to go 2-0 on the weekend on our home field is exciting.”

Senior Thea Johnson led the way for NIU with two goals and one assist over the weekend.

Johnson scored nine minutes into Sunday’s match off a cross from sophomore Christen Schuler. Three minutes later, Sophomore Becca Ford scored her first career goal as a Huskie with a shot into the upper right corner of the net.

The Huskies out-shot GSU 11-6 Sunday, while Junior Lindsey Curnock defended the net flawlessly for 90 minutes, tallying three saves.

NIU never let up its attack on Eastern Illinois Friday, out-shooting the Panthers 20-4 in a 1-0 victory. Johnson scored the lone goal in the game’s 31st minute. The Homewood, Ill., native launched seven shots in the match.

“Thea, as well as everyone else on the team, played their role,” Barker said. “Everyone has to play their role to win and this weekend they did.”

Starting the season 2-0 at a brand new facility was the goal for NIU, but it took time getting used to the new playing conditions.

“The first game, it took about 15 minutes to get into the game because we didn’t understand how the ball bounced and how it rolled,” Barker said. “Once they got that under their belt, they actually love it. It’s a beautiful surface and a beautiful field.”

Playing at the new NIU Soccer/Track and Field Complex added new excitement to the opening weekend for the players.

“We were all very excited to be playing on our new field and I guess the excitement took us through and made us win this tournament,” Johnson said. “At first I was skeptical because I love grass, but I really like the turf. The facility is amazing.”

Both players and coaches agree that turf is a great playing surface because it is more consistent than grass.

“I love it because we can control our style,” Barker said. “There are no bumps on it. It’s a flat surface and it’s a great surface for us to play on.”