The Ashland University women's soccer team started its final regular season road trip of the season with a 2-1 win at Michigan Tech on Friday (Oct. 13) night in Houghton, Mich.
The Eagles (8-4-1, 5-1 GLIAC) remained firmly in second place in the GLIAC standings, three points ahead of Ferris State and three behind front-running Grand Valley State.
Ashland opened the game as the aggressor and it paid off early as freshman Hillary Mihalik came forward from her outside back position and struck a ball from outside the penalty area that skipped past MTU keeper Kirsen Hudak for Mihalik's third goal of the season.
The Eagles, who did not allow a shot by the Huskies (5-6-1, 2-3-1 GLIAC) in the first half, struck again in the 36th minute when senior Morgan Bittengle scored off a pass from senior Carson Jannsen. It was Bittengle's team-leading seventh goal of the season and Janssen was credited with her second assist.
AU took its 2-0 lead into halftime and it looked secure after out-shooting Michigan Tech, 6-0, in the first 45 minutes.
The Huskies (5-6-1, 2-3-1 GLIAC) finally had their first shot of the game in the 49th minute after a corner kick, but freshman keeper Abby Lampe was up to the task.
Michigan Tech took another shot two minutes later before the Eagles had a couple cracks at Hudak in the 56th minute, but Bittengle and senior Kelsey McKernan were both turned away.
The hosts held a 9-3 lead in shots in the second half and finally got on the board in the 84th minute on a goal by Marisa DeMario.
The Eagles did not allow another shot after that as they preserved the one-goal lead. Lampe made five saves in the game.
With the shots even at 9, the Eagles held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Eagles will return to the field on Sunday (Oct. 15) at noon when they take on Northern Michigan in Marquette.
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