Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team began a two-game road swing by getting some players back from the injured list to post a 3-0 win at Northwestern Oklahoma State Friday evening in Alva.
 
The Lopers improve to 2-1 while the Rangers, a second-year Division II from the Great American Conference, fall to 0-4. They were 0-16-2 last season.
 
"It wasn't the prettiest match I've ever seen.  The field was wet and soft and they played very hard.  It's a good result; it's always tough to get points on the road, so we're happy about winning our first match away from home," said head coach John Maessner.   
 
UNK started the 2013 season last weekend minus several of its top offensive players, namely sophomore Montanna Hosterman (Papillion LaVista South H.S.) and junior Tara Knowlton (Lake St. Louis, Mo.).
 
They not only returned to the pitch tonight but scored goals as well.  Out shooting NWOSU 17-4 in the first half, Hosterman got on the board in the 33rd minute and then assisted on a goal by Knowlton 11 minutes later.
 
Last fall, this pair combined for 21 points.
 
In the second half, UNK added another goal when sophomore Holly Brown (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) assisted on a goal by junior Delanie Phillips (Millard West) in the 74th minute.
 
Defensively, the Lopers used all three of its keepers with sophomore Katelin Mielke (Millard West) playing the first half and true freshmen Kristen Rossi (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Jackie Paloucek (North Platte) seeing time in the second half.
 
Paloucek recorded five saves with Mielke picking up the win.
 
"We were able to get some minutes for a lot of players and get some players back from injuries. Hosterman and Knowlton got their first minutes of the year and contributed right away with a pair of goals in the first half.  Phillips is also coming back from injury and was able to find the back of the net as well."
 
Things are tougher Sunday afternoon as the Lopers face Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs (1-1-1) went 20-1-1 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA's.