SUPERIOR, Wis. -- The UW-Superior women's soccer team got goals from juniors Niya Wilson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) in the first half and survived a late Bethany Lutheran marker for a 2-1 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory at NBC Spartan Sports Complex on Saturday.
 
Wilson's fifth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 12th minute tied her for the Yellowjackets' all-time career record in goals at 34, set by Annah Bratley from 2018-21. Wilson, who was clipped in the box by Madison Sax, creating the penalty, stepped up and tucked a low drive into left corner of the net with her right foot.
 
Alessi doubled the lead in the 32nd minute on a feed from sophomore Mya Holmquist (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) on a long shot from outside the box past BLC goalkeeper Brooke Wolanin. The goal was the seventh of the year for Alessi.
 
The Yellowjackets were seeming on their way to a clean-sheet victory when sophomore goalie Jenna Lang (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) misplayed a volley, and Elena Luján Rubio put her seventh goal of the season in, getting the Vikings on the board in the 83rd minute.
 
BLC got no closer as Superior (9-3-3, 9-0-1) saw the match out to widen its grip on the top spot in the UMAC standings over second-place Bethany (8-5-1, 7-3-0).
 
Lang made five saves to improve to 7-2-1 on the year, while Wolanin made seven stops, dropping to 7-5-0.
 
Next up, the Yellowjackets take on St. Scholastica Tuesday at 7 p.m., in Superior in the second-annual Battle for the Golden Anchor. The match is also the 'Jackets' Allyship and Pride Match as part of NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Week.