Women’s soccer drops GPAC opener

MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite exploding for a pair of goals right after halftime, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team dropped its' Great Plains Athletic Conference opener against Dordt University, 4-3 Wednesday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.

 Just 14 minutes into the game, Kaylynn Anziano (Rapid City, S.D.) dished the ball through the Dordt defense as Josephine Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) knocked the ball into the net to give DWU a 1-0 lead.

 However, 15 minutes later, the Defenders (5-3, 2-0 GPAC) tied the game with a goal of their own. Neither team scored again in the first half as the score remained tied 1-1 at the break.

 Less than a minute into the second half, Bardsley recorded her second goal of the game to put the Tigers (3-2, 0-1 GPAC) up 2-1. Four minutes later, Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) tallied a goal to extend the DWU lead to two goals.

 The Defenders pulled within a goal after finding the back of the net in the 61^st minute. Four minutes later, Dordt tied the game with another goal on a penalty kick. With 10 minutes to play, the Defenders took their first lead of the game that sealed the comeback victory.

 Bardsley finished with two goals on three shots, as Partida added a goal and an assist. Anziano and Cierra Asmann (Castle Rock, Colo.) notched an assist each. Hannah Bowes (Omaha, Neb.) finished with seven saves in the net.

 The Tigers hit the road as they battle Morningside College at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.