For Ashland Women’s soccer the story remains the same. The Eagles played two very good halves this past weekend. They just did not come in the same games.

Ashland used an aggressive second half and overtime period last Friday to mount a rally from down 1-0 to 2-1 winners over Northern Michigan. Two days later AU came flying out of the gate with an early goal, only to see Michigan Tech mount the second half two-goal comeback, defeating Ashland 2-1.

The Northern Michigan Wildcats paid Ashland a visit on September 26th. The Eagles were looking to recover from the previous week that saw them lose twice, including their GLIAC opener to Ohio Dominican.

The Eagles allowed the first goal for the third consecutive game, when Wildcat forward Carmen Villaruel received the feed from Paula Hafner and found the back of the net. Villaruel’s first goal of the season put Northern Michigan in front 1-0.

The Wildcats went on the attack early and often in the game, outshooting the Eagles 16-12. AU keeper Karly Beuck earned her fourth win of the 2014 campaign, as she was tested throughout the game. The senior was up to the task, making a season high seven saves on the night to keep Ashland in the match.

Beuck’s play allowed Morgan Bittengle to take over in the final 25 minutes of the match. The freshman made a great individual effort to put the ball past the keeper and into the bottom left corner of the net. Bittengle’s second goal of the season pulled Ashland even with Northern Michigan in the 75th minute.

The match remained deadlocked until halfway through the ten minute overtime period. Once again it was the first year starter Bittengle, as she broke through the Northern Michigan defense, slipped by the keeper and slammed home her second goal of the game into the unguarded net to complete Ashland’s comeback effort.

Ashland Head Coach Danny Krispinsky was happy to see his team fight back to improve to 4-2-0 on the season, “Give our girls all the credit for fighting back, tying the game up and finding a way to win in overtime.”

Krispinsky was also impressed with the play of freshman forward Morgan Bittengle, saying, “Morgan fights for everything. Those two goals weren’t pretty but they were goals a scrappy striker gets. And that’s exactly what she is.” 

Krispinsky is beginning to see small adjustments made by his team paying off, “With this group, we are going to take small steps, today the step was not allowing the second goal, us tying it and finding a way to win. We are going to take those baby steps and keep on improving.”

Ashland looked to continue that improvement against the Michigan Tech Huskies on September 28th at Ferguson Field. Tech eliminated AU from the GLIAC conference tournament last season, ending the Eagles 2013 season.

Ashland reversed the trend and came roaring out of the gate. In the fifth minute junior Krista Lewis sent a cross into the box that freshman Chandra Hohne slammed home for the goal. Hohne’s first goal of the 2014 season gave Ashland the early 1-0 lead.

Ashland maintained their 1-0 advantage through the intermission break. The second half belonged to the Huskies though. In the 56th minute Jacqueline Miekle found the back of the net to push Tech even with Ashland. 

Just three minutes later the Huskies put the match out of reach. This time it was Miekle teaming up junior defender Haley Crites. Crites deposited the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and putting Tech in front of AU 2-1.

The Huskies out shot AU 16 to eight overall and seven to two in the second half, as Ashland could not close the gap, falling to Michigan Tech, 2-1. 

Karly Beuck matched her season high with seven saves in the loss that dropped Ashland’s record to 4-3-0 and 1-2 in GLIAC play.

Head coach Danny Krispinsky noted Ashland bucked the trend of the previous three games in the first half.

“It was a reverse of what we had been doing. The first half was great, the energy was there, and we got a goal. The second half we came out well but it seemed like we worn down mentally and physically, and you have to credit Tech for causing us to do so.”

“We played well in the second half on Friday and in the first half today, we just have to continue those runs of good play for longer periods than a half or pockets here and there,” Krispinsky said.

Ashland hits the road for visits to Saginaw Valley State on October 3rd and Northwood on October 5th. The Eagles return home on Friday October 10th when AU hosts Tiffin. 

Krispinsky said, “We still have a lot to improve on but the main focus for this upcoming road trip to Michigan is extending those periods where we are playing well and trying to win road games.”