TWO SECOND-HALF GOALS PUSH NO. 7 HAWKS OVER NO. 6 BULLDOGS

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 7 Northeast Community College women's soccer team took on No. 6 Holmes Community College in a neutral-field showdown Sunday in Champaign, Illinois. The Hawks punched in two goals in the second half to secure the ranked win by a final score of 3-1.

Northeast (3-2-1) led early in the match as Samantha Bayer (Queensland, Australia) found the back of the net for the fourth time in the last two games. The Bulldogs were able to put in an equalizer soon after and the two squads entered the halftime break tied at 1-1. Bayer drilled her second goal of the day from far outside of the 18-yard box in the second half and Lexie Lilienthal (Grand Island, Neb.) added an insurance goal to secure the first triumph over a ranked opponent this season for the Hawks.

STAT SHEET:

Goals: Samantha Bayer (Queensland, Australia) (2), Lexie Lilienthal (Grand Island, Neb.)

Assists: Amelia Bingley (Melbourne, Australia), Marleigh Leister (South Jordan, Utah), Talia Sanders (Queensland, Australia)

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Women's Soccer Coach Chad Miller on the massive victory:

"I was happy with our intensity in the second half," Miller said. "Holmes was all over the field, so I was really happy with how we moved the ball and connected on our counter attack. The girls stayed calm and composed, and they were under constant pressure. They didn't give up on the ball, and because of that we were able to get two goals."

Miller on his team building on this win going forward:

"I feel today gave the girls a glimpse of what they can do when they can do when the chemistry is there," Miller said. "Now that they know that, I think they see what it takes and the hard work it needs. We have a tough schedule still coming up. We have to focus on matching this intensity in practice so we can continue to build off of it."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will spend the week at home before heading to a battle with Morton College at 4 p.m. Friday in Cicero, Illinois.

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