The Dominican University women's soccer team fell to 1-2-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) on Wednesday afternoon, falling 3-1 to the Concordia University Chicago Cougars at the Stars' West Campus Field.
 
"Unfortunately we didn't come out with the work ethic we have had in our training this week," commented Carlos Carrillo, the Stars' head coach, following the loss.  "We came out flat and gave up two early goals, digging ourselves into a hole that we never worked to get of.  We will continue to learn from this loss."
 
The Cougars put the Stars' on their heels early as Nikki Anderson notched her first of two goals of the match in the second minute of play.  Sarah LaCost got endline on the right side of the goal and served a ball that found Anderson near the back post.  Anderson settled and slid a shot past Dominican's Vanessa Gonzalez.
 
Anderson struck again in the 20^th minute when she collected a failed Dominican clearance near the top of the 18-yard box and ripped shot to the upper right 90 of the Stars' goal to stake the Cougars to a 2-0 lead.
 
After the Cougars controlled the first part of the opening 45 minutes, Dominican regrouped but could not break down the Cougars' backline.
 
The score remained 2-0 into the 72^nd minute when the Cougars' Elizabeth Sanders got loose inside the Dominican box, ripping a shot that was saved by a diving Pamela Ruiz who played the final 45 minutes in goal for the Stars.  Unfortunately for Dominican, the ball rebounded right to the foot of Meghan Vasseur who one-touched a shot into the open goal.
 
Chasing the scoreboard, Dominican pressed forward for the final 19 minutes, finally catching a break in the 82^nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick for a Concordia handball in the box.  Freshman Josseline Williams calmly finished the penalty pulling the Stars within 3-1 but Dominican could not get any closer.
 
The sides finished with ten shots apiece with Concordia putting eight on frame to Dominican's six shots on goal.
 
The Stars, now 4-4-0 on the season, will look to rebound on Saturday when they travel to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to take on the Marian University Sabres.  Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.  Dominican then returns home to West Campus Field, hosting the Illinois College Lady Blues in non-conference play on Sunday.