SUPERIOR, Wis. – For some, games that feature high-octane offenses, which offer plenty of scoring are a thing of beauty. Others prefer games where offense is at a premium and defensive play takes center stage.
Fans were treated to the latter Friday afternoon at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex. The Yellowjacket women's soccer team, fresh off a shutout win over Northland to open UMAC play last week, hosted Bethany Lutheran College, and neither team was open to giving the other anything.
Every inch of the pitch was hotly contested in a match that saw the two teams combine for just 21 attempted shots and a paltry 10 shots on goal. Fortunately for the Yellowjackets, they were able to turn the offense on late, scoring twice on the way to a 2-0 win over the Vikings, to improve to 4-3-0 overall and 2-0-0 in UMAC play.
Jenna Lang (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) made her third straight start in goal for the Yellowjackets and picked up her first collegiate shutout, coming up with clutch saves and keeping Bethany Lutheran off the scoreboard until the offense could find its footing.
It took nearly 75 minutes, but when the Yellowjackets did break through, they struck twice in quick succession.
Halle Carlson (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) started the first scoring play, moving the ball upfield where
Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) tipped it into the box and
Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), the Yellowjackets' leading scorer, scored her seventh of the year to make it 1-0 at 74:36.
Less than five minutes later, the Yellowjackets increased their lead.
Alyssa Mahle (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) pushed the ball up the left wing and sent a long pass ahead to Alessi. From the left side of the box Alessi drove a shot into the net with her right foot to make it 2-0 at 79:04. It was the second goal of the season for Alessi.
Lang and the defense took it the rest of the way, and the Yellowjackets closed out the Vikings with their second straight shutout. Lang finished the match with five stops, and her record for the year now stands at 3-2-0.
With the shutout, the Yellowjackets have now gone 192:54 without allowing a goal.
The Yellowjackets will be back home Saturday when they host Martin Luther at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex. The opening kick is set for 4:30 p.m.
