Yellowjackets 3, North Central 2

The saying goes that the best things come to those who wait, and if that's truly the case, the Yellowjacket women's soccer team has some great things headed its way.

The Yellowjackets struggled to find the scoresheet through the first four matches of 2018, and consequently didn't find the win column either. All of that was put in the rearview mirror Tuesday afternoon, when the Yellowjackets bused south on Interstate 35 for a matinee matchup with North Central. The offense rose to the surface early, as the Yellowjackets tallied three times in the first half and then employed shut down defense to earn the 3-2 win.

Freshman Claire Smith (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) got the party started Tuesday, scoring the first goal of the season in the 10th minute to give the Yellowjackets the early lead. Annah Schussman (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) had the assist. The lead stretched to 2-0 just over five minutes later as Kelli Graham (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple Kellogg) scored at 13:54.

North Central would answer with a goal of its own to cut the Yellowjacket lead in half in the 20th minute. The Yellowjackets would counter a short time later, as Sarah Fjeran (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School) scored an unassisted goal in the 27th minute to push the lead to 3-1.

It stayed that way until the closing moments of the half, when North Central scored to pull back to within one at 3-2.

The fast and furious offense settled down in the second half. Shots in the first half were 13-5 favoring the Rams, but the two teams combined for just seven shots in the second half. That played well for the Yellowjacket defense, as it was able to shut down the Rams' attack and hold on to earn the victory.

Amanda Opalinski (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) and Schussman each had two shots to lead the Yellowjackets in that category. North Central outshot the Yellowjackets 18-8 for the match and held a 13-4 edge in shots on goal.

Morgan Philliber (Apple Valley, Minn./Edina) got the start in goal for the Yellowjackets and made six saves on eight shots in the first half. She was replaced by Madison Gutekunst (Mound, Minn./Mound Westonka), who stopped all four shots she faced in the second half.

Up Next: The Yellowjackets (1-3-1, 1-1-0 U.M.A.C.) return home after three straight road contests to host Northwestern N.B.C. Spartan Sports Complex. Game time Saturday, September 22 is set for 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 91.3 FM KUWS with Matt Johnson on the call.