GRAND FORKS, N.D. - After trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Western Illinois women's soccer team came back to defeat North Dakota 3-1 in a nonconference match at Bronson Field on Saturday (Sept. 16).
The Leathernecks rebounded from their first loss in seven games and improve to 7-2 on the season, while North Dakota falls to 2-4-1.
"Coming from behind is never easy and we've done it on the road," head coach Ted Flogaites said. "The team is elated, as they should be."
North Dakota got on the board right away, as Amanda Dahl scored on a Taryn MacMillan assist to put the Leathernecks behind 1-0 in the second minute.
"We have to tip our hat on their goal. The goal they scored was fantastic, a wonderful strike and we were on our heels early on," Flogaites added.
Western Illinois evened the score in the 72nd minute when Skyler Jessop scored her third goal of the year on Miranda Graham's second assist of 2012.
"Skyler's finish for the equalizer was clinical and she took her chance brilliantly," Flogaites noted.
Kristin Becker tallied the game-winner in the 84th minute when she put a free kick into the back of the net, giving the Leathernecks a 2-1 lead.
Less than five minutes later, Sarah Hall added an insurance goal, her fourth of the season, to put Western Illinois ahead 3-1.
"I was happy to see Sarah Hall score the third because she works super hard for the team and she's a very good player," Flogaites said.
Victoria Kappel made three saves to improve to 4-2 in goal, while Kristi Hestdalen took the loss for North Dakota despite making nine saves.
"We defended really well for the second match on the trot and thought the match changed when Chrissy Campbell and Skyler Jessop injected us with some great energy and high work rate and the value of that cannot be underscored enough; it altered the complexion of the match," Flogaites remarked. "I thought Sloane Levin played unbelievably well and Graham, Bennett, Herron and Henning were selfless and worked tirelessly for the team up and down the flanks. Julius and Katie Condon put in complete performances."
Western Illinois outshot North Dakota 22-6, including shots on goal by a 12-4 margin.
The Leathernecks will return home for a three-game homestand and the opening of Summit League play on Friday, Sept. 28 when they host Kansas City at 3 p.m.
