After losing a heartbreaker on Friday, the NIU women’s soccer team ended its three-game scoreless streak on Sunday, defeating Southwest Missouri State University 1-0.

It was the first shutout by a Northern Illinois goalkeeper since Oct. 8, 1999, when the Huskies blanked Central Michigan University 1-0 in overtime.

Before breaking their scoreless streak, the Huskies (2-3, 0-1) came up short in the first MAC contest of the year against the University of Buffalo on Friday, losing 1-0. NIU managed only one shot on goal.

Every time the Huskies tried to make something happen offensively, Buffalo would not give in, thwarting every Huskie scoring opportunity.

In the 78th minute, junior Katie Klaas was awarded a penalty kick, but could not convert as she hit the right post. The ball bounced right to sophomore Katie Kieffer, but she launched the ball over the net.

“A lot of penalties I tend to hit a little in the air. So, I was sure I was going to hit it on the ground and I did,” Klaas said. “I was really focused on hitting it to the corner, but it tends to not curve quite enough and it hit the post. That’s the way it goes I guess.”

Overall there were six yellow cards, including two by NIU, as both teams showed a lot of aggression trying to start off MAC play with a win.

“It’s frustrating because we played good enough to win,” coach Frank Horvat said. “We just need to finish our good chances. However, we got a lot tougher this game, which makes a huge difference.”

In the second game of the weekend, the Huskies looked like a team on a mission coming out on the attack. It paid off as NIU finally got the ball in the net as junior Denise Papke, off a pass from junior Maggie Nowicki, headed the ball in for the goal.

Breaking out of its offensive doldrums, NIU put up 15 shots against the Bears, including six on goal, their highest total of the year so far.

“It felt great to take the pressure off the defense and get the ball in the net and today we found one,” junior Maggie Nowicki said.

Junior goalie Leigh Steigerwald made 19 saves out of 20 chances over the weekend.

Against Southwest Missouri State, Steigerwald had to work hard to preserve the shutout in the last 10 minutes. With less than two minutes remaining and the shutout still intact, Steigerwald stepped up in the box and dove, knocking the ball away from a Bear attacker to seal the Huskie victory.

“We needed the win more than the tie,” Steigerwald said. “I did everything I could to stop the ball.”

The win was important for the Huskies, as they will play four straight road games against MAC foes. The Huskies are now only one win away from equaling their victory total of last year with 13 games still to play.

“Our defensive stepped up and played extremely well. Leigh came up with a couple of real big saves,” Horvat said. “It helps when we score early. I got to give my team a lot of credit plus we played real hard. Our hard work has really paid off.”