By Logan Jones
Asst. Sports Editor
The Northwestern women’s soccer team kicked off their 2018 campaign with a tough 2-1 loss to Rogers State this past Friday.
The season was set to start on Thursday at the Alva Recreation Complex but due to unplayable field conditions, the match was rescheduled for Friday and moved to Claremore, Oklahoma.
The match began as a continuous defensive battle as the score remained at zero until the 63rd minute.
Northwestern’s freshman goal keeper Reagan Allen was fooled by a shot on the left side, giving the Rogers State Hillcats a 1-0 lead.
Allen stayed busy all night, making six saves out of eight shots on goal.
The Lady Rangers continued to fight and eventually found the back of the net in the 81st minute. The goal from Yazmin Gomez tied the game at one a piece.
However, the goal was short-lived.
Just three minutes after Gomez’s game tying shot, the Hillcats scored the go-ahead goal, putting the game to bed at 2-1.
The following day, the Lady Rangers returned home hoping to bounce back against Northeastern State University.
Things did not go quite as planned.
In the 13th minute, NSU scored on freshman goal keeper, Kiara Fontanilla, putting the Rangers in an early 1-0 hole.
Northwestern tired to even the score with six shots on goal but they just could not get it past the Northeastern goal keeper.
NSU scored again 22 seconds before the end of the first half, widening the gap to 2-0.
The Rangers continued to attack the ball but still could not find the opening they needed.
Eventually, they took the 2-0 loss.
The Lady Rangers are now 0-2 to start the season, but look for a quick turnaround in the upcoming games.
Coming up, the Lady Rangers will head out on a three-game road swing, with the first stop in Bolivar, Missouri as they are set to face Southwest Baptist University September 6 at 4 p.m.
The Lady Rangers then travel to Oklahoma City to face the Eagles of Oklahoma Christian University on September 8 at 11 a.m.