BELLEVUE, Neb. – The Northwestern College women's soccer team was defeated in their season opener by Bellevue University (Neb.), falling to the Bruins 3-2 in the mid-afternoon match. New head coach Shannon Andringa begins her first full season at the helm for the Raiders.

A lot of back and forth play made for an action-packed match. Bellevue jumped out to a very early lead on a header scored by Maddy Vasquez in the fifth minute. The Raiders answered quickly with a goal by Josie Maasdam (Sr., Orange City, Iowa/MOC-Floyd Valley) in the tenth minute. Bellevue took the lead again after an own goal by the Raiders to take the 2-1 lead into the half.

Northwestern netted the equalizer in the 54^th minute by way of a Bruins' own goal off the corner kick by Molly Ryan (Jr., Aladdin, Wyo./Belle Fourche). A series of attacks and counterattacks by both squads did not amount to any goals for a long stretch in the second half. A foul in the box resulted in a penalty shot for Bellevue in the 71^st minute, as Bruin Cola Bielski converted the penalty shot for Bellevue and that proved to be the difference in the match. The Raiders created a few more chances in the final 20 minutes but could not convert.

Maasdam was a bright spot for the Raiders scoring the first goal of the season for Andringa's squad. The Raiders' offense was able to get seven shots off, with three of them being on goal. Kaelin Alons (Jr., Orange City, Iowa/Unity Christian) finished with four saves on the day.

Up Next: The Raiders with travel to Spring Arbor, Mich. to play against the third-ranked Cougars of Spring Arbor on Friday, August 27 at 6 p.m.

 

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