AU Women Open Northern Athletics Conference Play with Win

AURORA, Ill. September 12, 2007 - The Aurora University women’s soccer team improved their season record to 2-2-1 with a win over Northern Athletics Conference rival Benedictine University on Wednesday afternoon on AU Field. The victory marks the conference opener for both teams, as Aurora moves to 1-0, while Benedictine falls to 0-1.

The Spartans got on the board early as junior Heather Skeen hooked up with junior Allison Bailey for a goal in the second minute of the game. For Bailey, the Spartans’ leading scorer from a year ago, it was the first goal of the season.

Twenty-four minutes later, sophomore Nikki Counsell found the back of the net, assisted by sophomore Jessica Novickas, to make the score 2-0. Freshman Erin Colton added another goal right before the intermission on an assist from fellow freshman Cassie Beebe, making it a 3-0 Spartan lead at half.

Early on in the second half, Novickas tallied her second goal of the season, coming off of an assist by Counsell. The 4-0 lead didn’t last long, as sophomore Katie Lunsford found the back of the net for an unassisted goal two minutes later; it was her first of the season. The final goal came with 20 minutes remaining, as freshman Claire Buchanan knocked one in to make the score 6-0 in favor of the Spartans.

AU sophomore goalkeeper Jenny Jarvis went the full 90 minutes in goal to earn the shutout victory, she had two saves. Benedictine goalkeeper Ashley Nielsen had six saves in the losing effort.

Aurora returns to action on Saturday, September 15, as they travel to Wisconsin to take on Concordia University in Northern Athletics Conference action. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.