After a 2-0 victory over Central Michigan Friday, the NIU women’s soccer team let a .500 MAC conference record slip through its fingers in the second half Sunday at Huskie Soccer Field.

Instead, it was Eastern Michigan that got back to the break even point with a 2-1 road win.

NIU (5-8-2, 3-4-0) now faces the unenviable prospect of must-win games to make its goal of qualifying for the MAC Tournament.

“We can’t look too far down the road,” assistant coach Paul Jobson said. “We have to prepare for the two road games this weekend. These girls have what it takes to reach their goals. When their coach shook my hand after the game he said, ‘Hey man that’s the MAC, any team can win any day.’”

A run at the net from midfielder Elaine Eliadis sparked NIU to a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. She found the net with a left-footed lofting shot.

“As a sub, I look at it like I have to prove myself because I want my starting spot back,” Eliadis said. “I come in with more intensity and know I have to be a spark off the bench.”

EMU (6-9-1, 4-4-1 MAC) won the battle in the box in the second half and took advantage of the chances to score on corner kicks. NIU goalkeeper Carrie Dvorak used a punch save, but the rebound found the right foot of Lauren Clyne to tie the game 1-1 in the 64th minute.

The game winner came from EMU’s leading scorer, Michelle Lawrence, in the 74th minute. Lawrence followed a rebound with a nifty move and forced Dvorak to come out of the net. Her goal gave EMU a 2-1 lead.

On Friday, Dvorak rose from the ground for a third time, leg weary and as wobbly on her feet as a punch-drunk boxer. Previously undefeated in MAC play, CMU (6-7-2, 5-2-1) rammed into the NIU goalie three times. But there would be no three-knockdown rule in effect at Huskie Soccer Field.

“I got hit in the head twice,” Dvorak said. “It was a little hard to see after that second hit, but I can’t let it bother me, or I’m going to let up a goal. It is my job to keep the ball out of the net.”