MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota Morris women's soccer team notched its first win of the season on Thursday in a wild 7-4 victory over North Central University. The Cougars are now 1-5-0 (1-1-0 UMAC) on the season.

Minnesota Morris scored four goals in the first 15 minutes of the contest and looked to be well on its way to victory before North Central fought back. Kim Peters opened the scoring in the fifth minute with an assist from Monica Calderon and Jadyn Sondrol. Harper Toward and Ayla Wicklow followed with shots soon after that forced saves from NCU keeper Abigail Herbolsheimer before Jocelyn Sieh scored for the Rams on their first shot of the match in the ninth minute to make it 1-1.

Things were just getting started in the opening minutes. Calderon scored her first goal of the match in the 12th minute directly off a corner kick from Toward for a 2-1 lead. Seconds later, a foul in the box led to another 12th-minute goal for the Cougars, this one scored by Toward to make it 3-1. Another foul was called in the penalty area on North Central in the 15th minute and Toward deposited her second of the day in the back of the net for a 4-1 advantage.

In the final minutes of the first half, North Central clawed back into the contest. Kira Lewis scored in the 42nd minute to cut the lead down to 4-2 and then she added a second goal with just 10 seconds left in the half to make it 4-3 at the break.

A goal from Calderon in the 57th minute assisted by Toward and Chloe Keller seemed to restore order with Minnesota Morris out in front, 5-3. That two-goal lead lasted all of a minute until the Cougars were whistled for a foul in the penalty area and a Lewis PK made it a hat trick that once again brought the Rams within a goal at 5-4. 

Fortunately for Minnesota Morris, that would mostly be the end of the offensive threat for North Central on the afternoon. The Rams managed just a couple soft efforts the rest of the way, while Matteya Borah scored her first career goal in the 65th minute and Calderon finished off her hat trick in the 68th minute with assists from Toward and Bella Toth.

Toward finished the afternoon with two goals and three assists while attempting five shots (four on target). Calderon scored on each of her three shots on frame adn added two assists. Bernadette Cienik made two saves while picking up the victory.

Minnesota Morris is back in the Twin Cities on Saturday, facing the University of Northwestern in St. Paul starting at 4 p.m.