LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 30, 2022) – No. 24/16 Loras College's women's soccer team got back in the win column on Friday afternoon as the Duhawks took to the road and took down the Viterbo University V-Hawks 4-2.

The Duhawks (7-0-3) got a trio of second-half goals to fend off the upset attempt from the V-Hawks , who fall to 5-4-1 on the year in their National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schedule.

Loras wasted no time as an early foul gave senior midfielder Payton McDonnell a free kick opportunity from about five yards outside of the box. Her shot found the upper corner of the goal and put the Duhawks ahead 1-0 just five minutes into the game.

The V-Hawks responded just past the midway point of the half, capitalizing on their own free kick chance from a similar distance as Belle Johnson sent a low show towards the goal.

Duhawk keeper Kyndal Kells made the save but was unable to secure the ball, allowing Grace Breuchel to score on the put-back attempt and even the score in the 25^th minute.

Both offenses showed more life in the second half as the Duhawks tallied three in the period to stave off the V-Hawks.

The first second-half goal for the Duhawks came on what looked to be a harmless play, but the V-Hawks mishandled the clear attempt in the 57^th minute. Junior forward Savannah Johnson chased down the 50/50 ball and lunged for a left-footed shot to beat the Viterbo keeper to the far post.

Just four minutes later, the Duhawks scored an insurance goal as sophomore forward Lauren Riggle tallied her first goal of the season. Riggle finished off the scoring chance at point-blank range after a header attempt from senior forward Ryleigh O'Brien bounced off the crossbar and into the air before coming back down just in front of the goal line.

Viterbo kept things close with a goal from Aimee Kemper in the 81^st minute, but Riggle again added a quick insurance goal as she was in the right place at the right time to cash in after a deflection on a long free kick pass from junior midfielder Hannah Schmitz.

Riggle's two-score performance marks her first two goals of the season and the first multi-goal game of her career.

This match with Viterbo ends the nonconference portion of the regular season as the Duhawks get back to American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) action next Wednesday, Oct. 5, when they host Luther College at 5 P.M.