Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Northern State University women's soccer team rallied back from a 1-0 deficit to score a 2-1 victory over the visiting Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers Friday afternoon at Jerde Field.  The non-conference win improves NSU's season record to 2-1 and sets the Wolves up to meet Mesa State College on Saturday in a key in-region contest.

The Tigers took the early lead with a Kayla Pahl goal in the 30th minute of the first half.  Pahl took a long arching pass from her sister, Skye Pahl, before slipping the ball past NSU goalkeeper Kit Grace.  That would be the way the half ended, despite a strong offensive effort from the Wolves, who outshot the Tigers 15-3 in the period.

 NSU stepped up the offensive efforts in the second period, putting up another 12 shots and limiting the Tigers to just four of their own.  The pressure payed off at the 61:00 mark when Summer Swan's shot from the right side of the goal ricocheted off the hands of Tiger goalie Danielle Richardson and back to freshman forward Kaylee McDonald, who shot the rebound home for her first career goal.

NSU needed just three minutes and 50 seconds to add the game-winner.  Senior midfielder Stephanie Connolly started the sequence when she sent a pass from midfield into the left corner to sophomore Maggie Fedor, who fed the ball back to the middle for sophomore Kirsten Saunders.

That goal was the first of the season for Saunders.

Dakota Wesleyan did not let up, however, as they put together several offensive attacks, but NSU's defense withstood the pressure to preserve the win.

NSU was led offensively by Saunders, who had five total shots, four of which were on goal.  Grace made three saves in goal to improve her season record to 2-1.

Teagan Aguinaga had two shots, both on goal, to lead the Tigers, who fell to 1-2 on the season.  Richardson faced 27 NSU shots, making 11 saves and allowing the two goals.

Mesa State comes into Saturday's contest riding the heels of a 2-1 win over Minnesota Duluth on Thursday.  The Mavericks, under first year head coach Erin Sharpe, were picked to finish sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing 9-9-2 in 2007.

Game time is set for 5 p.m. at Jerde Field.