(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College women's soccer team's hopes for another Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) title took a hit on Wednesday afternoon. The Chiefs' fell to ISCC foe Morton College 2-0 in their 2024 home opener in a tough battle. The Chiefs (1-3, 1-1) controlled much of the first half action before the Panthers (4-2, 2-0) flipped the script in the second half.  Waubonsee, which has won four straight ISCC championships coming into this season with an 18-2 overall record during that span, will likely have to win the rest of their conference matches to have a shot of keeping their streak alive.

In the second minute of the match a foul on Morton gave Waubonsee a free kick from 30 yards out. Ana Morales' ensuing kick sailed over the cross bar and on to the top of the net. Neither team could muster another shot until the 18^th minute when Morton goalkeeper Lara Nunes corralled a long shot by the Chiefs. Seven minutes later a header by Waubonsee's Abby Broadway off a corner kick just went wide left of the far post. The Panthers' best scoring opportunity didn't happen until the 34^th minute when Chiefs' keeper Luz Espino made a diving stop. Waubonsee's Katelyn Curtis got past the Panthers' defense in the 37^th minute and tried to loft a shot over Nunes' head to no avail. The match remained scoreless heading into the intermission with the Chiefs holding a 9-3 edge overall in shots.

Both teams had scoring chances early in the second half but failed to find the back of the net.  Morton finally broke through when Sjenna Van DeWeerd took a crossing pass in front of the Chiefs' goal and redirected it past Espino and into the net from eight yards out. Waubonsee almost knotted the score two minutes later, but Curtis' shot went left of the post. The Panthers nearly tacked on a big insurance goal in the 64^th minute. However, a tremendous diving stop by Espino thwarted a hard shot by Morton's Astrid Beckemeier from 15 yards out. Espino topped that effort in the 71^st minute when she dove to her right to stop a penalty kick by Beckemeier to keep it a one score game. Two minutes later Emma Turner got off a shot from the right wing that sailed over the cross bar as time began to run out for Waubonsee.

As the second half progressed the Chiefs showed signs of fatigue on the 80-degree day. Morton then added a huge second goal in the 83^rd minute when Ruby Hogan drilled a shot into the left corner of the net out of the reach of Espino. For the game the Chiefs ended up out shooting the Panthers just 17-15 overall. However, Morton got 10 shots on goal compared to eight for Waubonsee. Espino and Nunes were both credited with eight saves in the match. The Chiefs' next game is a week from now as they host Moraine Valley Community College on Wednesday, September 11 beginning at 4:00 p.m.