Sept. 14, 2022 – The first instant classic of the 2022-23 season is here thanks to (RV) Loras College's women's soccer team's thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 18 North Central College on Wednesday evening inside the Rock Bowl.

The Duhawks (3-0-2) trailed the Cardinals (4-1-1) midway through the second half, but a pair of quick goals in a two-minute span flipped the script and sent the Duhawks on to their first ranked win of the season.

Loras started the scoring in the back-and-forth affair in the 43^rd minute when senior forward Erin Rieckens cashed in on a corner kick pass from senior midfielder Payton McDonnell. McDonnell's pass led senior forward Ryleigh O'Brien to a header attempt that she sent toward the net, allowing Rieckens to score a contested tap-in goal to put the Duhawks up 1-0.

The Cardinals would respond just six minutes later as Elle Sutter scored what would be the first of two goals for NCC's leader in this match. Sutter not only equalized the match in the 48^th minute, but she also gave the Cardinals the lead in the 63^rd minute as she scored from the top of the box after a pass from Kily Egan.

Loras looked to be dragging toward the end of the match, but it took just one strike from junior midfielder Hannah Schmitz to flip the momentum as her game-tying, left-footed strike found the top left corner, tying the game at 2-2 in the 77^th minute.

Schmitz's masterful goal reenergized the Duhawks, and she helped finish the deal two minutes later as the momentum shift led to a game-winning goal from senior forward Abby Eriksen. Schmitz started the scoring chance with a long throw-in that was headed backward by O'Brien.

The double-header worked to perfection as O'Brien's misdirection led Eriksen to a perfect header chance in front of the net, beating the keeper to the near post. That goal proved to be enough for the Duhawks in a wild and exciting night inside the Rock Bowl.

Loras outshot the Cardinals 21-14 for the match and earned seven corner kick chances compared to just two for North Central.

The win also makes a statement to the rest of the Division III teams in the country after the Duhawks dropped from No. 3 to out of the top 25 in Tuesday's edition of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. North Central was new to the poll after an upset of then-No. 14 Centre College.

Loras looks to ride this momentum into the weekend as the Duhawks will travel to St. Paul, Minn. to take on St. Catherine University on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 P.M.