WILMINGTON, N.C. – Freshman forward Devin Petta’s second-half goal helped break a 1-all deadlock and lifted Northeastern to a 2-1 victory over UNC Wilmington in a key Colonial Athletic Association women’s soccer match Sunday at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.

The Huskies improved to 9-3-3 overall and 4-1-3 in the league while the Seahawks dipped to 8-7-1 and 4-3-1. With the win, NU jumps past the Seahawks into second place with 15 points while UNCW drops into the fourth spot with 13 points.

Petta, who leads NU and the CAA in scoring with 28 points, notched her 11th goal and her fifth game-winning marker of the season when she beat her defender and UNCW freshman goalkeeper Caitlin Hunter to a through pass off the foot of junior forward Kristen Blake. Petta converted the pass into an open goal at the 58:40 mark,

NU opened the scoring early in the first half on freshman defender Sandra Magnusdotter’s second goal of the season just 6:19 into the contest. Magnusdotter scored from 24 yards out on a free kick following a Seahawk foul on the leftside.

The Seahawks, though, drew even 1:29 later when junior midfielder Megan Novak notched her fourth goal of the season. Senior defender Brittany Croce started the play by advancing up the right flank before sending a low cross into the box. Novak slipped past her defender and redirected the cross past NU sophomore keeper Stephanie Gordon.

UNCW built a 17-10 advantage in shots, including a 10-2 lead in the second half. Gordon, though, was up to the test, making five saves in the period and seven on the game.

Next up UNCW will be a 7 p.m. game on Oct. 23 at Drexel which will be the first of two road tests for the Seahawks. Northeastern opens a season-ending three-game homestand on Oct. 23 against James Madison.

Release courtesy UNCW