ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Rockford University women's soccer team took to the field on Tuesday with the first win of its season in its sights. The ladies played their best match of the year and were neck and neck with Knox the entire afternoon. In the end it ultimately came down to attrition as the sweltering heat and injury bug caught up to Rockford allowing Knox to squeak by with a 2-1 victory. 

The first half of the match was well played by both teams. Knox got on the board first just under 20 minutes into the first half when it took advantage of a fortunate bounce. Knox benefited off a shot that hit the cross bar and bounced back out to another attacker who then was able to find the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. However, Rockford bounced right back to tie the game less than four minutes later. Freshman Callie Davis (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood West) delivered a beautifully placed corner kick right in front of the net to set up her teammates with a golden opportunity. It was then freshman Melissa Hernandez (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) who seized the opportunity finding the back of the net and tying the match 1-1. The two teams remained scoreless for the remainder of the half leaving the match tied 1-1 at the half. 

Late in the first half and during the second half, the extreme heat and injury bug bit the Regents. Rockford had a total of three players who had to leave the match forcing the Regents to play down for the remainder of the day. However, that did not deter the ladies as they continued to fight hard and battle for the remainder of the game. In the end, Knox ultimately broke through with just under ten minutes remaining to score the game-winning goal and win 2-1.

The women's soccer team will return to the field on Saturday, September 14th when they hit the road to play at Cornell College. The match is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.