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HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
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Nike
wsoc-briar-cliff-recap-091623
0
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU (1-2-2, 0-1-1)
1
Winner Northwestern NWC (3-4-0, 1-1-0)
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU
(1-2-2, 0-1-1)
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Final
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Northwestern NWC
(3-4-0, 1-1-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU 0 0 0
Northwestern NWC 1 0 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | NWC Athletic Communications

Miller's First Half Goal Gives Red Raiders GPAC Home Win

Northwestern stays unbeaten on home pitch with 1-0 win over Briar Cliff

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College women's soccer team (3-4, 1-1 GPAC) down the Chargers of Briar Cliff (1-2-2, 0-1-1 GPAC) 1-0 thanks to a Anna Miller goal off a set piece in the first half at the NWC Soccer Complex Saturday night. The win marks the first Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) win for head coach Kelli Herman.
 
"What a win! I am so super proud and excited of our team's effort today. We had a great corner from Julie with a finish from Anna that put us ahead, noted head coach Kelli Herman. "Then it was our sheer determination to defend and win our 1 v 1 battle that won us the game today. Briar Cliff is fast, aggressive, and talented. Now we need to focus on Morningside."  
A sharp first half with crisp passing led to early opportunities for the Red Raiders on the attacking third but never was able to capitalize in the first 20 minutes of action.
 
On the second corner kick of the half in the 32nd minute, Julie Dunlap (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa) delivered a beautiful ball to the far side of the net and Miller (So., Holland, Mich.) put it away with a header, scoring her first goal of the season and of her collegiate career.  
 
With nine minutes remaining in the half, off a Red Raider handball, the Chargers had a free kick just outside the box but the Raider defense held. Another ball inside the box would also see the Red Raiders clear it to keep it a 1-0 Raider advantage.
 
The Chargers had a few more opportunities in the attacking third in the final 10 minutes of the half but a bend, don't break mentality prevailed for the Northwestern defense. A shot on-goal would be saved by Abby Bastian (Sr., Brandon, S.D.) late in the half to keep the momentum squarely on the side of Northwestern.
 
Northwestern put up nine shots in the first half with a trio of Raiders putting up two. The Raiders had two corner kick opportunities, while Briar Cliff did not have any.
 
Northwestern kept the pressure on the Chargers early in the second half, keeping it on Briar Cliff's side and forcing the Chargers to play on the defensive. Dunlap had a free kick off a Briar Cliff handball and nearly converted, but her shot went high. A few minutes later, she would have another opportunity for a shot on goal, as the Red Raiders continued to keep the pressure on the Charger backline.
 
Briar Cliff had a prime opportunity in the 58th minute with a free kick just outside the box, but nothing would come on the opportunity resulting in a goal kick for Bastian.
 
Bastian's night picked up in the final 20 minutes of the match, recording four saves in that span, as the desperation for Briar Cliff began to set in. A counterattack opportunity for the Chargers was disrupted by a hustle play from #22 ended the threat.
 
The Red Raiders would continue to keep the ball moving, making key defensive stops as Briar Cliff desperately looked to put up shots to net the game tying goal. Northwestern would go onto prevail, 1-0, and pick up their first league win and improve to 3-0 at the NWC Soccer Complex this season.
 
MATCH NOTES:
  • The win marks the first GPAC win of the season and the first for head coach Kelli Herman.
  • Briar Cliff was called offsides nine times in the match.
  • NWC put up 16 shots to Briar Cliff's 13 in the victory.
  • Julie Dunlap put up seven shots to pace the Red Raider offense and took all four of NWC's corner kicks.
  • The goal for Anna Miller marks the first of her Red Raider career for the sophomore.
  • Abby Bastian recorded nine saves in goal for Northwestern today and picks up her third win of the season (3-1).
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Anna Miller
Up Next: Northwestern will host the other Sioux City school next time out at the NWC Soccer Complex when the Mustangs of Morningside University (4-1-2, 1-0-1 GPAC) come to Orange City on Wednesday, September 20.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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