Box Score

ST. PAUL—The University of Northwestern women's soccer team showed signs of resiliency, but its first half comeback was cut short by Crown College in a 3-2 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) square-off Saturday afternoon. The Eagles posted two consecutive goals to tie the game at 2-2 before Crown would take the upper hand in the second half.

The home team posted early shots on the Storm goal until the 5:57 point of the game when Samantha Samsa put the visitors on the board for the first time. Around six minutes later Crown would be up two with another goal that saw Jenna Willis redirect a shot into the Eagles' goal.

Northwestern responded in a strong way as Sara Kallhoff (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) entered a corner kick and then followed it up with a score of her own just 1:20 after the second Crown attack, marking the junior's first of the 2013 campaign.

UNW continued to pressure the Storm defense for the remainder of the half, resulting in a Lindsay Halvorson (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) golden boot to even the game at 2-2 heading into halftime.

The second period began with the two squads dueling back and forth on both ends of the field. Key defensive stops proved to be theme, as both goalkeepers and backlines prevented any more scoring to take place until the deal-breaker goal by the visiting team on the scoreboard put the Eagles back on the comeback trail.

The Purple and Gold saw opportunities to once again cut into the lead, but more Crown stops resulted in the final 3-2 margin.

The home team outshot its opponent in each half, but it was the six more saves that the Strom's defense that would ultimately play into the outcome. Amidst 12 shots on goal, Emily Johnson (Esko, Minn./Esko) tallied nine saves while protecting the net.

Northwestern (2-6-1 overall, 1-4-1 UMAC) will take a brief break from conference action as the squad takes the field on Tuesday afternoon for a 4 p.m. kickoff versus the Snelling Avenue visitors, Hamline University. Both live stats and video will be available for fans unable to make the home contest.