SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Sioux County neighbors, the Northwestern College Raiders (4-10-1, GPAC) 1-7-1 and Dordt University Defenders (7-5-1, GPAC 2-4-1), renewed the women's soccer version of their rivalry earlier tonight with a high scoring affair that went the way of the Defenders 3-2.
The Defenders struck first with an early goal in the opening two minutes of play. The Dordt attack continued to put pressure on the Raider defense with multiple shot attempts. The Raiders conceded another goal in the 11
th minute to go down 2-0. The Raider offense found their footing and were able to posses the ball more consistently. The Raiders were able to get multiple shots off and a few on frame but could not find the back of the net and the first half ended with Dordt leading 2-0.
The Raiders came out of the half with obvious intentions and great effort to get their offense on track. The result, a 48
th minute goal by junior midfielder
Julie Dunlap (Des Moines, Iowa/Dowling Catholic) cut the Defender lead in half. Senior
Emily Hurley (Pleasant Hill, Iowa/Grand View Christian) found Dunlap as she split two defenders and finished off the attack with a well struck ball that found the top right corner. With the score 2-1, the Raiders continued to build on that momentum and continued to posses the ball and the defense didn't allow easy chances for the Defenders. In the 75
th minute fellow senior
Josie Maasdam (Orange City, Iowa/MOC-Floyd Valley) found Hurley for the game-tying goal. As Hurley received the ball for Maasdam she spun away from the defender and put the shot out of reach of the keeper. Minutes later a push from the defenders resulted in the game-winning goal from Jori Bronner. The Raiders would not go down lightly as they put together a few more attacks but couldn't quite tie the game resulting in a 3-2 loss.
Junior keeper
Kaelin Alons (Orange City, Iowa/Unity Christian) was in the net for the Raiders and tallied four saves. Alons record in the net sits at 3-6. For the game the Raiders out shot the Defenders by one, 13-12.
Up Next: The Raiders have a bye this Saturday, Oct. 16, and will travel to Aberdeen, S.D. to face the Presentation College Saints on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at 1:00 p.m. in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) clash.
