By Conor Nevins

The theme of the Northeastern women’s soccer team during the 2004 season has been finding a way to win. Although they have faced a string of injuries to key players, including all three senior captains, Jen North, Liz Dyjak and Andi Matthews, the Huskies continue to prevail in difficult games, and Monday night at Parsons Field was no exception. Despite twice giving up a one-goal lead late in the second half, NU remained composed and rallied for a 3-2 overtime win over the College of the Holy Cross.

“It seems to be the same old story with us this season. We get set back by injuries but we’ve been finding ways to win tough games,” said NU coach Ed Matz. Coach Matz credits the contributions of junior midfielder Jess Haidamaka and sophomore midfielder Siobhan Howard for coming off the bench and providing quality minutes throughout all the injuries. Haidamaka scored for the Huskies in their double-overtime tie to Harvard University this past weekend.

Monday night’s game against the Crusaders saw the Huskies with possibly their most complete lineup of the season, with the exception of Matthews, their defensive leader, who is out for at least a week with a knee strain.

The Huskies came out sluggish to start the first half and were unable to garner much offensive pressure. A shot off the crossbar from sophomore defender Sandra Karlsdottir was all the Huskies could muster in the first 45 minutes and they headed into the locker room tied at 0-0.

NU came out with greater intensity in the second half and their efforts began to wear down on the Crusader defense. Junior forward Filippa Petruccelli and Liz Dyjak, playing together for the first time all season, controlled the midfield for the Huskies, who dominated the possession for much of the second half.

Sophomore forward Kristin Kowalik, last year’s leading scorer, put the Huskies on the board first with her team-leading third goal of the season, firing a rebound past Holy Cross goalie Jessica Pietrowicz. NU would continue to pressure but the Crusaders would level the score at 1-1 with 20 minutes to play as Mary Jones headed back a deflection to keep Holy Cross in the game.

A penalty kick by Liz Dyjak would once again put the Huskies up but a fluke goal of an NU defender tied the game at 2-2 and sent the game into overtime. Petruccelli would finally seal the game for the Huskies five minutes into overtime with her first goal of the season off an assist from Dyjak.

Despite the sluggish start in the first half and two blown leads in the second half, coach Matz said he was pleased with his team’s performance but hopes to improve before America East play begins next week.

“We’re not playing as good as we can play. Our flow is not yet up to its potential, but as we start to get more of our offensive players back from injuries we’ll start to improve.”

With a record of 6-1-1, the Huskies have two more games left before conference play begins. NU travels to Boston College for their next game Thursday before hosting Ryder University at Parsons Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.