MITCHELL, S.D. – In its home opener and first regular season match of the 2021 campaign, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team came away with a 2-0 victory in non-conference action on Wednesday night from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.
The start of the match proved to be a defensive struggle as neither team found its offensive groove in the early going. Isabella Gregg (Moreno Valley, Calif.) collected a trio of saves in the first 20 minutes, while midfielder Josephine Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) and Kamryn Harrop (Willard, Utah) attempted to spark the Dakota Wesleyan attack.
In the 10th minute, Bardsley who finished with three shots in the game, sent a shot just over the goal. Following, Harrop sent a shot on goal in the 17th minute, however, the attempt was saved.
Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) broke the silence in the 36th minute as she tallied the first goal of the match and granted the Tigers (1-0-0) a 1-0 lead. Despite a subsequent attempt on goal by the Bruins (1-1-0) seconds later, DWU entered halftime with the one-goal lead. Gregg, who registered her first collegiate start at goalkeeper, ended the first period with 10 saves.
To commence the second half, the Blue and Gray extended its lead to 2-0 after Bardsley found the back of the net in the 52nd minute. Madison Jenny (Columbus, Neb.) and Deandrea Johnson (Antioch, Calif.) continued the Tiger momentum near the 60th minute with a pair of strikes on goal, though both shots were saved.
Yet, the Dakota Wesleyan defense, anchored by Kassidy Johnson (Hartford, S.D.) and Gregg shutout the Bellevue offensive attack. DWU denied any comeback by Bellevue in the second period and secured the 2-0 victory, in spite of being outshot 22-13 by BU.
Tiger senior Partida led Dakota Wesleyan with five shots in the match while Bardsley and Jenny recorded three and two shots, respectively. Defensively, Gregg ended the contest with 14 saves to preserve her first career shutout at net.
The Tigers continue non-conference play as they face Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.
