It wasn’t exactly what coach Wendy Dillinger was hoping for, but the ISU soccer team got past some early struggles for a 2-0 win over Northern Illinois.

“We just competed, we battled, we didn’t back down, we didn’t give up,” Dillinger said. “We still have a lot of work to do. Today was not a good showing.”

One aspect of the game Dillinger focused on last season was taking advantage of the opportunities they were given and turning those chances into points on the scoreboard, and the Cyclones (2-0-0) did just that Sunday.

“It’s good because when we get the opportunities that we create, we’re able to finish them and then that puts us ahead, and it leaves room for error,” said midfielder Emily Goldstein. “Let’s say we mess up in the back and they score a goal. At least we aren’t down, and it’s easier to play tied or up rather than playing down and coming back, so finishing those opportunities has really been good for us.”

Early on in the first half, Goldstein crossed the ball into the box and, after a blocked shot off NIU keeper Amy Carr, sophomore forward Jennifer Dominguez crashed the net for the score.

“Britt [Morgan] tried to get a touch on the ball,” Dominguez said. “It kind of bounced my way and I just kind of slid in and hit it in the back of the net.”

Last season, Dominguez had to wait until midway through the season before netting her first career goal in a game against Oklahoma, and she said getting the first one out of the way this year was a relief.

“It’s a huge weight,” Dominguez said. “I had been out for the whole entire week kind of with a little injury, so I think it was me wanting to get back into the game and hungry just to get in there and score.”

The Cyclones took advantage of another opportunity later on in the first half and were able to turn it into their second goal of the game, but this time it came off the foot of freshman defender Ashley Johnson.

Johnson received a pass from fellow freshman Alyssa Elver in the 37th minute and didn’t think twice about firing from 25 yards out.

“I’m used to taking shots farther out, and Alyssa had a great ball to me, so I just took it,” Johnson said. “I really wasn’t thinking about it.”

Iowa State out-shot Northern Illinois 12-9 in the game and had five corner kicks to the Huskies’ one, while freshman keeper Maddie Jobe made four saves for her second shutout of the season.