The Lady Pioneers of Northland began their season on the right note with a solid win over Rockford College, 5–1, on Thursday.
Due to several minor injuries brought about during
preseason workouts, Coach Casteel was concerned about the performance level
that would be produced in Thursday’s match up. Coach Casteel expressed, “I was concerned about the girls coming into
the first match discouraged because of the nagging injuries that we had
experienced so far, but their attitudes were positive.” In the ninth minute they marched
into Regent territory led by freshman center-mid, Rebecca Newton, when she placed
one in the back of the net from the top of the eighteen. As the battle continued the Pioneers showed
great promise, controlling the flow of the match. Approaching the thirty-seventh minute,
Rebecca Newton connected with senior forward, Miranda Smith, inside the eighteen where
Smith elevated the score to 2–0. The
Pioneers found the net once again, at the beginning of the second half, when senior center-mid, Abi Sexton, placed one just out of the reach of Rockford’s
keeper, Christina Lewis. The Lady Regents
were not going down without a fight. In
the fiftieth minute, #6 Holly Boekeloo for the Regents managed to cut
through the Pioneer defense and place one under the outstretched arm of Pioneer
keeper, Kate Matthai. The goal produced
by Boekeloo and the obviously fatigued Pioneers had clearly turned things around
in favor of the Regents. However, the
Pioneers, determined not to be defeated, regained the
momentum. The Northland defense—led by sophomore, Second Team All-American Nicole Wung and sophomore Bethany
Chatfield; combined with two sophomore fullbacks, Sarah Seering and Jen Sullivan; as well as freshmen substitute,
Bryn Spencer—produced a solid defense to aid in regaining the momentum. At that point Northland’s midfield placed the
ball back on the foot of Miranda Smith, and she answered with two more goals
in the seventy-second and seventh-fourth minutes to finish the day with a
total of three goals in her account. Coach
Casteel was “pleased with the level of play” that was produced by his new, young team and
stated that they “show potential for a great future.”