The Peacock women's soccer team fell to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun Conference with a 1-0 loss to the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday in Fayette.  UMC used an early goal to steal the lead and held on despite an overwhelming disparity in shots for the one-goal victory.  After the win, the Golden Eagles move to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Upper Iowa owned possession of the ball in Minnesota Crookston's half of the field for the majority of the first half.  The Peacocks outshot the Golden Eagles 12-1, but the visitor's made the most of their one opportunity.  Lorna McCall finished off a breakaway opportunity for her first goal of the season; Nicole Corbin assisted on the score.  Brianne Fenton had three shots on goal and Jordyn Ostrowski added a pair in the frame, but Lexie Gauger was up to the challenge and made 6 saves in the half.
 
In the second half, Upper Iowa took another 16 shots with 7 on target, but Gauger stood tall and wouldn't allow the Peacocks to tie.  UIU had three great chances in the final ten minutes and even beat Gauger on one attempt, but a Golden Eagle got to the ball at the goal line and turned away the near goal.  With UIU exposed and stretching for a goal late in the half, UMC's McCall was able to get free twice, but Caila Petrie made saves in one-on-one situations to preserve the one-goal deficit.
 
For the game, UIU outshot their guests 28-9 overall and 13-4 on goal.  Gauger made 12 saves to improve to 2-1 on the season in the net, while Petrie fell to 2-2 with one goal allowed and 3 saves.  Fenton, Ostrowski and Birgit Rijnders combined for 15 shots with 10 heading to the net, while nine other Peacocks attempted shots in the match.

Next in line for Upper Iowa is Bemidji State University.  The Peacocks and Beavers will start their match at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18 on Pattison Field in Fayette.