It had been over 11 months since the NIU women’s soccer team suffered a regular season defeat.

The Huskies’ 14-match unbeaten streak ended Sunday with a 3-1 loss at Creighton. NIU (4-1-3) had not lost since Oct. 14, 2007, at Miami.

Creighton (7-3) came out firing on all cylinders Sunday, scoring three goals in the game’s first 20 minutes. All of the goals came from senior Marcy Gans, who became the first player to record a hat trick against NIU since 2002.

“We didn’t have the best start in the first 20 minutes,” said NIU head coach Carrie Barker. “The second half was night and day compared to the first half, but we just need to refocus and get ready for play next weekend.”

Senior Jestina Orlando scored her first goal of the season for the Huskies in the game’s 36th minute. While NIU out-shot the Blue Jays 11-7 in the second half and 17-15 for the game, it was not enough to overcome the big first-half deficit.

Friday’s result proved to be different for the Huskies, as NIU pulled out a 1-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State (0-4). The Huskies tied their best start in school history with Friday’s victory.

“I don’t really get caught in all the stats, but whenever we play well and we’re improving with each game, that’s the feeling that I’m looking for,” Barker said. “As long as we’re doing well, that’s what excites me.”

NIU got its lone goal from junior Lisa Maier in the game’s 51st minute. The forward scored off a steal inside the box for her first goal of the season.

While the Huskies out-shot SEMO 13-8, the Redhawks made it interesting before the end of the night. With about two minutes remaining, a SEMO player advanced the ball up-field and took a shot over goalkeeper Lindsey Curnock’s head. The junior leaped to her left to punch the ball over the goal and preserve her 21st career shutout.

“I saw the entire thing and my mouth just dropped,” Maier said. “I thought, ‘we can’t let that happen in the last five minutes.’ Props to her for making that amazing save. It could have been a completely different game and we could have gone into overtime again, which we wouldn’t have wanted to happen.”