DAYTON — A game-winning goal by freshman
Alana Nesbit in the 79th minute led the Wright State women's soccer program to a 3-2 victory over defending conference champion Milwaukee in its Horizon League opener on Thursday evening at Alumni Field.
WSU (4-4, 1-0 HL) handed Milwaukee (3-3-1, 0-1 HL) its first conference opener loss since 2012, which also occurred against the Raiders in double-overtime fashion.
While the Panthers outshot Wright State 20-9, the Raiders made the most out of its opportunities with seven shots on frame, highlighted by goals from
Ashley Vaughn,
Lauren Borchert, and Nesbit.
Olivia Mace and
Olga Massombo contributed to the attack with an assist apiece, while goalkeeper
Jessika Seward totaled a season-high seven saves over 90 minutes.
Twenty-one Raiders received playing time in the win, featuring five newcomers in
Ashley Vaughn,
Kaylee Pham,
Alana Nesbit,
Elise Canter, and
Mariella Hartmann, earning starts. Seward and Pham were the lone Raiders to play the entirety of the match.
Wright State struck first in the back-and-forth matchup, as Vaughn turned a corner kick by Mace into her first collegiate goal at the 15-minute mark. Seward kept the Raiders' 1-0 lead intact with a save off a penalty kick in the 21st minute. However, MKE managed to tie the game with a goal off the foot of Natalie Auble in the 29th minute.
MKE came inches shy of taking the lead at the 42-minute mark off a header to an open goal. However, substitute defender
Taylor Lauck made a lunging save to preserve the tie. The score remained 1-1 for the remaining minutes of the first half.
WSU regained its edge in the 65th minute, as Borchert connected on an unassisted goal, her second of the season. Milwaukee answered back once again, tying the game with a goal by Molly O'Regan at the 77-minute mark.
Just two minutes later, in the 79th minute, Nesbit converted on the game-winning goal off a pass from Massombo. The Panthers were limited to just one off-target shot for the remainder of the match, sealing the win against the conference powerhouse.
Wright State will return to Horizon League action on Sunday, September 18, at Youngstown State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
