LA GRANDE, Ore.  – The Northwest Christian University women's soccer team got back to their winning ways on Saturday, taking a 2-1 victory from Linfield College in a neutral site game played at Eastern Oregon University.
 
Last season the Beacons didn't win their third game until October 30th. This year they did it after just five contests. NCU has also scored 12 goals on the year, bringing them to within three of their total from a season ago.
 
The Beacons scored a pair of early goals, both times at the foot of sophomore Emily Miller. First, in the fourth minute, Miller took a pass from Joceline Howard for the score. Then, 12 minutes later, Sierra Graton (pictured) found her for the game-winner and her fourth goal of the season.
 
"Today was a huge outing for Emily Miller," said head coach Jessica Cardwell. "Her finishing was excellent and our team did a great job finding her and the rest of our forwards. The midfielders distributed the ball and had fantastic vision."
 
Linfield responded with a goal of their own, just two minutes before the end of the first half, but they would barely sniff the goalkeeper box in the second half, with just one more shot on goal.
 
Cardwell said, "Our defensive line struggled a little bit in the first half but made the adjustments at the half and came out stronger."
 
NCU (3-2) survived a scary moment in the second half when Katie Hastings, the only dressed Goalkeeper on the trip, had to come off the field after a hard collision. Junior midfielder Brighton Hebisen was called in for the emergency duties between the pipes and kept things afloat until Hastings was ready to return.
 
The Beacons out-shot the Wildcats 17-13 and held a 6-4 advantage in shots-on-goal. Hastings finished with three saves in 74 minutes of work to earn her first collegiate victory in goal.
 
Northwest Christian continues their road swing tomorrow, staying in La Grande to take on Eastern Oregon University at 12 p.m.