LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold on as Grinnell College defeated the Prairie Wolves, 2-1, in women's soccer action on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 19) at Abel Stadium in Lincoln.
 
NWU has now dropped five straight matches to fall to 4-11-1 overall while Grinnell improves to 8-6.
 
Raissa Souza got the Prairie Wolves off to a good start with a goal in the 7^th minute of the match putting NWU ahead 1-0.  Souza scored her 6^th goal of the season as she scored off the initial corner kick from Natalie Graves and a touch from Carah Criner that setup the score in front of the net.
 
Grinnell was able to tie the match at 1-1 in the 27^th minute.  Valencia Alvarez converted a penalty kick after colliding with the NWU goalkeeper inside the box.  Alvarez's goal at the 27:37 mark tied the match and the 1-1 score would remain heading into halftime.
 
In the second half, neither team was able to break away until the 67^th minute when Francesca Varias sent a shot to the back corner of the net from 10 yards out on what would eventually be the game-winning goal.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan attempted to make a late rally and pulled the goalkeeper in the final minute for a corner kick attempt, but that came up empty leaving the Prairie Wolves on the short end as time expired.
 
Grinnell finished the match with nine total shot attempts, with four on goal.  NWU had seven attempts and four shots on goal.
 
The Prairie Wolves will play their final match of the 2017 season on Tuesday (Oct. 24) when they host Buena Vista University.