HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Kayla Rollins scored in the second minute and Natalie Auble had a goal and an assist to lead the charge as the Milwaukee women's soccer team knocked off Northern Kentucky by a final score of 3-1 Sunday afternoon at NKU Soccer Stadium.
 
"It was great to finally get a conference road win," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "Prior to this we had a loss and two ties, so we were very much focused on getting our conference win here. I wouldn't say it was our sharpest display, but the second half was significantly better, which this team tends to do, so credit to them. We did well … Northern Kentucky made it highly difficult, which they have done to everybody else. Credit to them for the soccer they played today."
 
The Panthers (8-3-3, 5-1-2 Horizon League) also got a goal from Kat Van Booven just 20 seconds before intermission to take a 2-1 lead and grab control of the match against the Norse (1-10-2, 1-6-1 Horizon League), extending their unbeaten streak to seven straight (5-0-2) overall.
 
"I thought we were really good in the second half," Boyd said. "I think the stats showed that – it's a shame we didn't get another goal. There were a couple of great displays of soccer and their team did a nice job of sliding and blocking and whatever possible to keep it out. Three points on the road; six points on the weekend – pretty good weekend for the Panthers."
 
The team moved into first place in the Horizon League standings following the rest of the conference results this afternoon, now sitting at 17 points to lead by two points over four other programs in a tight regular-season title chase.
 
Things got going quickly, with Rollins striking for her league-leading eighth goal of the season less then 90 seconds into play. Lainey Higgins started the play, chipping a ball into the corner for Auble. Auble then sent a perfect serve into the box, where Rollins one-timed it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead just 1:22 in.
 
The lead was relatively short-lived however, as a handball in the box resulted in a tie score in the 15^th minute.
 
The MKE offense pushed back and started to regain its footing. Haley Johnson just missed a goal in the 34^th minute, seeing her shot from 25 yards pushed just over the bar.
 
Unable to convert a PK chance in the 38^th, Van Booven turned the tides just before the break, slotting in a goal off a corner kick that was sent forward by Lexi Blaser at the 44:40 mark. The eventual game-winner gave Milwaukee the momentum it needed.
 
Auble netted her fourth of the season just after the break, taking advantage of a ball that rebounded from the charging NKU goalie to send it to the far post for a 3-1 advantage in the 47^th minute.
 
Milwaukee held almost 60 percent possession on the day and put together a huge advantage in shots but was held without another goal the rest of the day. Breanna Culver had a great-looking one-timer in front stopped with a quality save in the 78^th minute and Molly O'Regan would have had a goal at the 88:13 mark – her volley off a Culver cross was sent to a wide-open net before a last-ditch block effort by the last NKU defender pushed it wide.
 
For the game, the Panthers put up advantage of 21-7 in shots and 13-3 in shots on goal, as well as forcing eight of the 14 corner kicks in the contest. Van Booven led the offense with five shots (3 on goal), while a trio (Higgins/Auble/Rollins) ended with three apiece. In net, Kendall Edwards had her shutout streak come to an end at 314:02 after allowing the penalty kick – which she did get a piece of and nearly pushed wide – picking up the victory with a pair of saves.
 
Up next, a game that will play a large role in determining the Horizon League regular-season champion, as the Panthers will host Oakland Saturday, Oct. 22. The Golden Grizzlies are one of those four teams in second with 15 points, currently sitting at 4-1-3 in league play. Game time is set for 1 p.m. and the contest will also be "Senior Day" for the MKE program.