By Logan Jones
Asst. Sports Editor
The Lady Rangers soccer team faced a tough first week of October as the entered the week without their head coach.
James Ross served a two-game suspension after violating university policy.
Tim Lavoie, who assisted with the team last season, assumed head coaching duties during Ross’s suspension.
Northwestern took on Bison of Oklahoma Baptist on Thursday, falling 4-0.
The girls fell into an early hole after a goal from a penalty kick gave the Bison a 1-0 lead only two minutes into the match.
Freshman, Kiara Fontanilla had a tough day between the posts despite making 10 saves on 26 shots, 14 of which were on goal.
The Rangers fought hard to stay in the game, firing 10 shots, 4 on goal.
However, the Bison over matched them as they went on to score two more goals in the first half.
The Rangers’ best scoring chance came in the 38th minute when Calvonis Prentice started a scramble in front of the net with a shot on goal that was rebounded right to Kaley Whitworth, who sent her attempt wide to the right to end the threat.
Oklahoma Baptist scored another goal in the second half putting the match out of reach for Northwestern.
Final score, 4-0.
The red and black returned to the pitch on a wet and cold Saturday in a match against Southern Nazarene.
The Lady Rangers came out hot with a goal from freshman Shelby Gibbs in the seventh minute.
SNU answered back with a goal in the 21st minute, but just 48 seconds later, freshman Alissa Carlson gave Northwestern the lead again with a quick strike on the Crimson Storm goal.
After receiving two yellow cards, Ranger defender Makayla Barrientos was ejected in the 77th minute.
As the Lady Rangers had to play a man down, SNU quickly capitalized, tying the game less than three minutes later.
The score stayed at 2-2 all the way into double overtime and it looked as if the match would end in a draw.
However, the Crimson Storm managed to find the back of the Ranger net, giving them the lead and ultimately the game.
The Lady Rangers have now dropped four straight and fall to 1-5 in the GAC and 1-8-1 overall.
They hope to change their fortunes around when they take on rival Southwestern Oklahoma State on Oct. 9 in Weatherford and then East Central in Ada on Oct. 13.