WINONA, Minn. – Northwestern College is still in the hunt for its first team victory of the 2013 season, but the Eagles were able to take some positives away from Saturday's match against Saint Mary's University in a 6-3 loss to the Cardinals.

Sophomore No. 1 singles player Megan Johnson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) recorded her first win of the year as she handled opponent Kirsten Hoffmann rather easily in a 6-1, 6-1 win for NWC. Rachel Smith (St. Cloud, Minn./Bemidji), Northwestern's lone senior on this year's roster, also rallied for a win as she defeated Saint Mary's' Lexi Felten 6-1, 6-3 at No. 4 singles. Both the Eagles' Karin Smith (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) and Aubree Else (Oskaloosa, Iowa/Pella Christian) had their singles matches go into extra innings, but Smith lost to Grace Zachman 7-5, 6-4 and Else dropped a 7-5, 6-2 loss to Rachel Luetmer.

Match Results

In doubles action, the elder Smith and Rachel Bostrom (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) teamed up to take an 8-6 win over Lindsey Reinisch and Felten at No. 2 doubles. The Eagles' No. 1 pair of Megan Johnson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing) and Kelly Johnson (Annandale, Minn./Annandale) came close to finding a victory in their match, but ultimately fell 9-8 (8-6) to Hoffman and Luetmer.

Now 0-3 on the year, Northwestern will play one more match before its spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C. The Eagles will face Macalester College on Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m.