Clear skies and a sunny day in DeKalb matched NIU\u2019s (4-7-3, 3-4-1 Horizon League) commanding 3-0 win over Oakland University (1-10-3, 0-6-2 Horizon) on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Huskies went out on top for the last home game and honored their seniors: midfielders Isabel Struble<\/a>, Sarah Roy<\/a> and forward Taite DeLange<\/a> for Senior Day.<\/p>\n In the first half, DeLange and graduate student defender Angelina Briggs<\/a>, off the bench, strung two goals in quick succession. Freshman midfielder Abbey Kijewski<\/a> sealed the win just before the 76th minute, breaking a two-game Huskie slump.\u00a0<\/p>\n NIU controlled both ends of the game, firing 17 shots with 6 on target, while the backline limited the Golden Grizzlies\u2019 to only 6 shots, 4 on target. Sophomore defender Lyndsey Miller<\/a> flaunted her versatility with 2 assists.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Freshman goalkeeper Alexandra Devory<\/a> recorded 4 saves and her fourth clean sheet to help NIU climb up one spot in the Horizon \u2014 to eighth place with 10 points, only 4 points separated from third.\u00a0<\/p>\n Head coach Michael O\u2019Neill<\/a> celebrated the win and spotlighted the bench production.<\/p>\n \u201cTaite and Briggs coming off the bench to score goals; Abbey actually came off then went back in and scored in the second half. It\u2019s good to have that depth in the squad to lift the group,\u201d O\u2019Neill said. \u201cLegs are tired and teams are pushing through some of those physical challenges. So, I was really impressed with the bench; when their name was called, they were ready.\u201d<\/p>\n FIRST HALF<\/p>\n The opening minutes were contested, but neither team could establish solid control, trading fouls instead.<\/p>\n NIU, via sophomore defender Elle Wainscott<\/a>, tried to get the attack flowing seconds into the 17th minute with a shot, but it went wide. However, this started an aggressive spell for NIU, generating three more shots until Oakland responded with their own one, but the Huskies\u2019 drew first blood in the 32nd minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n Their high line allowed Miller to find space inside Oakland\u2019s final third. DeLange received a pass from Miller inside the box, took a sharp turn with the ball on her right then drove it past Oakland redshirt junior goalkeeper Maryn Weiger<\/a>, 1-0 NIU.<\/p>\n Less than two minutes later, NIU drew a free kick seemingly out of goal range. Briggs, on the dead ball, delivered it straight into the Golden Grizzlies\u2019 top right corner for the 2-0.<\/p>\n Oakland generated 3 shots, 2 from long-range in the closing minutes as NIU\u2019s defense stood tall, defending the 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n SECOND HALF<\/p>\n The Huskies poured the pressure in the second half while Oakland\u2019s offensive output plummeted.\u00a0<\/p>\n NIU let off 5 unanswered shots in the first 19 minutes of this half. In the 56th minute, redshirt sophomore midfielder Mckenna Campbell-Turkalj<\/a> connected with the crossbar with a shot just outside the box, nearly finding the third goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Golden Grizzlies forced more saves from Devory in search of their first, but no luck.\u00a0<\/p>\n