Box Score Tiffin, OH – The Heidelberg University women's soccer team captured an early lead and secured an insurance goal as time expired to defeat the Ohio Northern University Polar Bears, 2-0, at the Hidden Valley Soccer Complex.
 
Wednesday's victory against Ohio Northern marks the first triumph over the Polar Bears since 1997, snapping a 23-match losing streak.
 
An early save by Berg netminder Meredith Bruce led to the tri-color drawing first blood on the ensuing possession. The Berg drove into the attacking third and senior midfielder Lexi Foley connected with leading goal scorer, junior Audrey Kaufman who put the Berg ahead 1-0 in the 11^th minute. The close-range goal marks Kaufman's tenth score of the year.
 
Bruce shined in goal to guide the Student Princes to victory. The Cincinnati native hauled in nine stops, moving her season total to 103 and the clean sheet performance marks her fourth shutout of the year.
 
The early Heidelberg goal led the Polar Bears to up the tempo in search of an equalizer. Despite ONU's quality play and half of the Polar Bears shots coming from inside the Heidelberg penalty area, the Berg's 1-0 lead remained intact late into the match. In the 90^th minute, Makenzie Damsa sealed the landmark Heidelberg victory with a low shot that snuck past ONU keeper Kristy Catrine. The score marks Damsa's third of the year.

From Interim Head Coach Maddie McLaughlin:
"To step in the arena and take down a team that is top of the conference is absolutely incredible! I'm extremely proud of the resiliency this group has shown. I've told the ladies all season that connected teams are dangerous teams and that's exactly what they were today. Meredith Bruce played lights out and continues to prove she is one of the top keepers in the OAC. We will enjoy this win and start shifting our focus to Saturday. We are not done. We will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead."
 
The Heidelberg women improve to 9-5 overall, 2-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference. The Polar Bears slide to 9-4-2 overall, and suffer their first loss OAC loss of the 2021 campaign moving to 5-1. The Berg snapped an ONU six-match unbeaten streak.
 
Heidelberg women's soccer returns to the pitch on Saturday, October 23, when they travel to Alliance, Ohio to battle the Mount Union Purple Raiders.
 
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.