MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team dropped its first home match of the 2020 season, as it was unable to survive in overtime, falling 2-1 versus conference foe Northwestern College in Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday.
The Tigers (5-2, 3-2 GPAC) started off quickly on the offensive attack as DWU scored in the opening minutes. Megan Hertzog (Salinas, Calif.) found the back of the net off the assist from Courtney Mascarenas (Pueblo, Colo.) for her first goal of the season giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
However, the Raiders (2-3-0, 2-3-1 GPAC) responded minutes later with a goal of their own to knot the score at 1-1 after capitalizing on a penalty kick. The score remained unbothered for the rest of the half as both teams traded possessions.
At the intermission, the Blue and Gray held a slight edge 6-5 in shots and were led offensively by Josephine Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) who collected two shots. Meanwhile, Alissa Betz (Bismarck, N.D.) snagged four saves to hold the score even.
The Raiders started the second half quickly as they recorded the first five shots of the period. Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) broke the streak and kickstarted the DWU offense in the second half as she sent a shot just high in the 49th minute.
Despite being outshot 11-8 in the second period, Betz and the Tiger defense kept a clean net for the remainder of the period, including a crucial save in the 61st minute keeping the match even through the end of regulation.
Both teams regrouped heading into overtime. However, it was Northwestern who had the upper hand offensively outshooting DWU, 2-0. It was in the 97th minute that one of those shots found the back of the net giving the Raiders a 2-1 road victory.
Offensively, the Tigers were led by Bardsley who finished with four shots including two on goal. Hertzog notched two shots as well, including her first goal of the season while Betz and the DWU defense totaled nine saves.
The Tigers return to the pitch for Senior Day as they face Doane University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.
