NIACC women nip Southeastern, 3-2

MASON CITY - Brianna Marchand scored two goals to help lift the NIACC women's soccer team to a 3-2 win over Southeastern CC Wednesday in an ICCAC contest on the NIACC campus.

Marchand, a sophomore from Sioux City, scored the first and last goal of the match for the Trojans.

Marchand put the Trojans on top 1-0 less than two minutes into the contest on an assist from Valerie Nelson. After Southeastern tied the contest at 2-2 with about 20 minutes left in the contest, Marchand scored the game-winner about five minutes later.

"We always say good teams find a way to win and it doesn't matter where it comes from," NIACC women's coach Gannon Harsma said. "In the past week or so, we've kind of been stuck in an attacking rut and (Wednesday) was a breakthrough performance for us.

"It's just a matter of buckling down and working hard for that other person. I always say that creating space for someone else is more important than doing it for yourself."

Zoey Thompson scored the Trojans' second goal of the contest at the 17:35 mark of the first half off a corner kick from Jette Busche.

NIACC (2-5-2 overall) improved to 2-1-1 in the ICCAC. Southeastern (4-6 overall) fell to 3-2 in the league.

"We played really, really well," NIACC keeper Jada Westover said. "We had really good communication and that is something we have tried to work on.

"We were able to put the ball in the back of the net as we've had some problems finishing. We all worked hard."

NIACC returns to action Saturday at Marshalltown CC in an ICCAC contest.

Westover says Wednesday's win can help the Trojans going forward.

"It motivates us to keep on winning," she said. "It scares the other teams a little bit. It lets them know that we mean business and we're coming for them next."