Weidler scores two goals as Tigers drop GPAC battle

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa. – A late penalty kick from Dordt College was the difference as the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team fell in a Great Plains Athletic Conference heartbreaker, 3-2 Monday in Sioux Center, Iowa.

 The Defenders (6-6, 4-2 GPAC) raced out to a quick start scoring two goals within minutes of each other to take a 2-0 lead five minutes into the first half. DWU (3-8, 1-5 GPAC) responded with two unanswered goals from Alyssa Weidler (Sioux Falls, S.D.) as her first goal came in the 15^th minute. Her second goal came in the 26^th minute with an assist from Marina Brightman (Earlham, Iowa.) as both teams headed to halftime deadlocked at two.

 The second half turned into a defensive battle as both teams could not find the back of the net. With 4:15 left in the match, Dordt received a penalty kick which resulted in a goal. DWU had a corner kick with seconds remaining but could not find the back of the net as the Defenders escaped with a 3-2 victory.

 The Tigers did not have a shot in the second half as all eight shots came in the first 45 minutes. Weidler finished with two goals on two shots, while Gemini Wesley (Sioux Falls, S.D.) also collected two shots. Brightman tallied a shot and an assist while Jocelyn Behm (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Madison Alder (Herriman, Utah.) and Stephanie Banvelos (Hayward, Calif.) all finished with a shot in the loss.

 The Tigers will be home against Mount Marty College at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.