APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s soccer team scored four goals in the final 35 minutes to rally for a 4-2 nonconference victory over Lakeland College on Tuesday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.
Casey Merkle scored twice and Ryan Berkley and Melissa Rooney both added a goal and an assist to lead Lawrence (2-1-0).
The Vikings dominated the Muskies for long stretches and posted a 26-5 edge in shots for the match.
Lakeland (1-3-0) got on the board first when Mimi Pulido scored off a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Her goal just 12:59 into the match gave the Muskies a 1-0 lead. Pulido made it 2-0 when her shot in the 53rd minute got past goalkeeper Carolyn Ford.
Lawrence cut the margin in half less than three minutes later when Berkley took a free kick from just outside the left side of the penalty box. Her bending shot beat goalkeeper Melissa Noll at the 55:24 mark.
The Vikings then tied it at 2-2 on a creative shot by Rooney. She took a throw-in from Berkley and chipped the ball over Noll’s head and into the net at the 72:32 mark.
Lawrence took the lead six minutes later on Merkle’s first goal of the afternoon. Merkle took a pass from Lucy Brown and fired it past Noll for a 3-2 lead at 78:57.
Merkle then sealed the victory with just over two minutes left. Genna Matt played the ball to Rooney in the middle of the field, and she found Merkle running through the Lakeland defense. Merkle took the open space and went to the goal, beating Noll to her left to give Lawrence a 4-2 lead at 87:47.
Patsy Kealey played the first half in goal and made one save, and Ford played the second half and also made one save. Ford picked up her first collegiate win in goal. Noll made 12 saves for Lakeland.