Cori Frankenberg
The Huskie women’s soccer team fought through exhaustion and heat Sunday to pull out victory over the Lewis Flyers at the NIU Soccer Complex.
NIU won 2-1 in double-overtime, the first overtime affair of the season for the Huskies.
It was very close to ending in a tie, as only roughly 2:41 remained on the clock in double-overtime before Cori Frankenberg (Appleton, Wis./Appleton East) punched one through to send fans home happy.
Entering this game, the Huskies were recovering from a very long game against Purdue on Friday night. “We were tired. We definitely came out flat,” said head coach John Ross.
But the Huskies were able to keep with it, and that paid off in the end. As the second overtime period was winding down, Frances Boukidis (La Crescenta, Cali./Crescenta Valley) got the ball to Frankenberg, who kicked it into the left corner of the goal to end it.
Regulation featured a defensive battle that was laden with fouls. The teams combined for 18 fouls during the first 90 minutes of play. Scoring opportunities were few and far between. Lewis was able to get an early score from Meg Carmody in the 15th minute. Alex Elias (Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek), however, was able to tie it up for the Huskies a few minutes before the half, with help from Kaylee Heller (Madison, Wis./Madison West) on the assist.
The Huskies, who improve to 2-1-0 with the win, head next weekend to Brookings, S.D., for the Jackrabbit Invitational. Their next game is against South Dakota at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. On Sunday, Sept. 8, they get South Dakota State in a 1 p.m. match.
For more information on NIU women’s soccer and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
