ROSEVILLE, Minn. – In a match that could serve as a potential Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament preview, the Yellowjacket women's soccer team hit the road to take on a University of Northwestern that entered play Wednesday with a 7-5-0 record and a 3-2-0 mark in the conference. Meanwhile the Yellowjackets are in the midst of the best start in program history, entering play Wednesday with a perfect 5-0-0 mark overall and in the UMAC.
 
And it was a match showed how even the two teams are, and how entertaining a post-season contest would be.
 
In the end, the hosts got the best of the guests in this one, as Northwestern edged the Yellowjackets 2-1 at Reynolds Field on the Northwestern campus.
 
The loss was the first of the year for the Yellowjackets, but they still sit atop the UMAC standings with a 5-1-0 mark.
 
Northwestern started the scoring in the 11th minute when Megan Moeller's shot eluded Yellowjacket goalkeeper Morgan Philliber (Apple Valley, Minn./Edina) to make it 1-0.
 
It stayed that way until after halftime when the Yellowjackets broke through, and it was a pair of phenomenal freshmen who got the job done.
 
Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) started the play and Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) finished it, putting a shot past Northwestern goalkeeper Ellie Fryer to tie the match 1-1 in the 56th minute. For Wilson, it was her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
 
Northwestern came right back and regained the lead just over 11 minutes later. In the 68th minute Danielle Roberts scored her sixth of the season to put the Eagles back in front.
 
The Yellowjackets had a couple opportunities late in the match, but the Northwestern defense shut the door for the win.
 
Shot attempts favored the Yellowjackets 14-12. Shots on goal also favored the Yellowjackets 7-4. Philliber went the distance in goal for the Yellowjackets, finishing with two saves. Her record on the year now stands at 5-1-0.

The Yellowjackets will be on the road Saturday, April 24, taking on UW-River Falls in a non-conference match. The opening kick from Ramer Field is set for 2:00 p.m.