Box Score
Jamie Murray/Maura Fortino Video Interview

COLUMBUS – The Capital University women's soccer team responded from a disappointing draw in its conference opener last week with a big victory Wednesday, defeating 20th-ranked Ohio Northern 2-1 in an Ohio Athletic Conference contest at Bernlohr Stadium.

The Crusaders (6-5-1 overall, 1-0-1 OAC) surrendered a goal just under four minutes into the match but responded with two first-half tallies to take the lead.

Capital held of a strong charge by the Polar Bears (6-1-3, 1-1) in the second half to give ONU its first loss of the season and the program's first win over the Polar Bears since 2008.

"It's a great win because we didn't beat Ohio Northern last year, and that was the only OAC team we hadn't beaten," Capital coach Chris Kouns said. "It's also great any time you can beat the team that's at the top of the table.

"I told the kids to enjoy the win ... but I told them not to live off of this … if this is the end, we're not going very far."

Junior Livvy Hein (Columbus, Ohio) opened the scoring for the Crusaders in the 24th minute. She found the back of the net for the fourth time this season after taking a pass from freshman Jamie Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and chipping it over the keeper's head into the side of the net on the opposite side.

Capital broke the tie in the 42nd minute on freshman Rachael Wintering's second goal of the year. The Lewis Center, Ohio, native (at right) took a long feed from classmate Mariah Richards (Canton, Ohio) and deposited the goal after the ball was deflected past the keeper.

"After (ONU) scored its first goal, the intensity and the drive from every single player who stepped on the field was exactly what we needed," Kouns said. "It took a gut effort to do that."

Ohio Northern, which hadn't surrendered more than one goal in any match this season, finished with a 6-3 advantage in shots.

Junior goalkeeper Maggie Donnellan (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded three saves to pick up the win.

The Crusaders resume action this Saturday at Heidelberg. Match time is slated for 4 p.m. in Tiffin, Ohio.