The Northland College Women's Soccer team opened the 2022 season on Thursday with a road loss to Macalester College by a final score of 5-0. 

After facing the Scots at home a season ago, the LumberJills traveled to Macalester to kick off the regular season. Several new players made their Northland debut and a few returning players who missed last year made an impact in the revamped starting lineup of the opener for Head Coach Dan Dubois' team. Transfers Liberty Dickerson, Brenda Anaya and Justus Manuelito joined Izzy Haverkampf as players not in last year's lineup. Also starting in the field for the Jills were Gretta Keffer, Kristin Vensland, Anahi Diaz Morales, Clara Schmiesing, Makaria Ottum and Saleen Thepmontry. Elysabeth Lough got the nod in goal.

The Scots wasted no time testing the defense of Northland, getting an off target shot :10 seconds into the game. Playing a defensive formation early, the Jills were able to keep the game scoreless until the 31st minute when Mia Brispin opened the scoring for Macalester. A strong offensive push over the next 8 minutes allowed the Scots to take a 3-0 score into the half. Lough managed a pair of saves in the first half and the Jills only allowed five shots on goal.

Northland made it very tough on the Scots in the second half, but ultimately came up short. Lough was able to make eight saves in the half, giving her 10 for the match. Macalester found the net twice more for the final 5-0 score. Five Jills came off the bench in the contest with Madie Linka making her collegiate debut.

"The season opener gave us our first real taste of adversity and I am very proud of the way the team handled it," commented Dubois. "It would have been easy to fold, but we battled. A great opponent, the heat and not having our full compliment of players made a hill for us to climb. And we did just that. Elysabeth played great in net and defensively we didn't make things easy for them. I am looking forward to getting back on the field on Saturday."

The LumberJills take the field for the home opener on Saturday vs. Lakeland University. The contest is scheduled for a noon kickoff at Ponzio Stadium.