Women’s soccer eliminated from playoff contention

The women’s Raider soccer team struggled again this past week, losing to both Dakota Wesleyan and Hastings.
Northwestern fell to Dakota Wesleyan at home on Wednesday, dropping a close game 1-0. The Tigers scored their goal 48 seconds before the end of the first half. DWU put the ball in the net again late in the second half, but the referee rescinded it.
This loss mathematically eliminates the Raiders from conference postseason play.  With their win, DWU moved into a tie for fourth in the conference.
On Saturday, NW traveled to Nebraska to face Hastings, the GPAC leader, ranked 15th in the nation. NW fell to the Broncos 4-1. Hastings’ four goals were all scored by the same player, two in the first half, two in the second.
The Raiders led for 19 minutes in the first half after sophomore Alli Dunkelberger scored from 30 yards away.
But then Hastings overwhelmed the Raiders. “They knew how to pass quickly and connect well,” said sophomore midfielder Johannah Jensen. “They were fast and physical.”
“They were very good at creating opportunities for themselves, and unfortunately, they had good finishers,” said senior goalkeeper Wendy Hofmeyer.
Despite the score, several of the NW players thought that the Raiders played well against the Broncos.
“We probably played the best we have played yet against Hastings,” Jensen said. “As a team, we knew we had the talent, but we had our record in the back of our minds. We went after it and worked hard.”
Hofmeyer agreed that there were  positives.
“We put things together and created opportunities really well for ourselves,” Hofmeyer said. “We played the ball to feet and moved as a team.”
Over the fall break, NW also played two games, losing 2-0 at home to Doane before defeating Mount Marty 3-0 to pick up their first GPAC win of the season.
NW’s season will conclude this Saturday at 3 p.m.