SUPERIOR, Wis. – For two decades, the Yellowjacket women's soccer program, along with other programs at UW-Superior were members of the WIAC. During that time, wins against conference opponents were hard to come by for the Yellowjackets. Once UW-Superior departed the WIAC for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in 2015, the Yellowjackets continued to play WIAC schools, but still found winning difficult.

Sunday, the Yellowjackets' opponent was former WIAC foe UW-River Falls. Entering play, the Yellowjackets were 0-25-0 all-time against the Falcons, but they would leave the stadium Sunday and no longer have a zero in the win column.
 
The Yellowjackets scored three times in a first half filled with offensive fireworks and held on for a 3-2 win over the River Falls, the first-ever win over the Falcons in program history, Sunday afternoon at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex.
 
The Yellowjackets (1-1-0, 0-0-0 UMAC) lost a 1-0 lead and fell behind 2-1 before scoring twice in a span of five minutes to regain the lead for good with just under 13 minutes to play in the opening half.
 
Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), who led the Yellowjackets in goals during the spring season with nine and points with 23, opened the scoring for the Yellowjackets early, picking up a rebound in the right side of the box and maneuvering into a shooting lane to net her first goal of the year just 5:10 into the contest. Annah Schussman (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) assisted on the play.
 
UW-River Falls would answer at 18:22 when Alivia McClinton's shot eluded Yellowjacket goalkeeper Morgan Philliber (Apple Valley, Minn./Edina) to tie the game. The Falcons took the lead at 26:01 when Alexis Peterson chipped a shot over Philliber to make it 2-1.
 
Just over a minute later the Yellowjackets would draw even. Schussman got the ball and drove home her first goal of the season at 27:49 to even the match at 2-2.
 
Moments later River Falls would be assessed a yellow card violation in the box, leading to a penalty kick for the Yellowjackets. Wilson was chosen to take the kick, and she made it count, sending the ball from her right foot into the lower left corner of the goal, to put the Yellowjackets back in front, 3-2.
 
Both teams made changes in goal at halftime. Philliber was relieved by freshman Jenna Lang (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), while River Falls starter Grace Zellmer was replaced by Kaylie Krueger. Zellmer allowed three goals on four shots. Lang's time in goal got off to a rough start, as she was injured less than five minutes into the second half, forcing Philliber back into the match. Philliber held down the fort for roughly the next 15 minutes before Lang returned to finish the match.
 
The second half was played much tighter, with both sides finding the offense tougher to come by. River Falls had a glorious opportunity to tie the score with about 10 minutes to play, but Lang and her team defense made multiple saves on a flurry near the front of the goal to preserve the lead, and ultimately, the first victory of the year for the Yellowjackets.
 
Philliber notched her first win of the year, making five saves on seven shots in 59:28 of play. Lang finished the match with three saves.
 
The Yellowjackets are back in action Friday, September 10 when they travel to Augsburg to take on the Auggies. The opening kick is set for 7 p.m. at Edor Nelson Field in Minneapolis.