SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - Freshman forward Trisha Shoemaker of Bettendorf scored her third goal in two days, but the Ashford University women's soccer team dropped its first contest of the season on Saturday against Dordt College by a 3-1 decision to close the NWC/Dordt Pizza Ranch Classic.
The Great Plains Athletic Conference's latest test for the purple and gold was too much on the road after the Saints (1-1-0, 0-0-0 MCC) were coming off a 3-2 win over Northwestern College on Friday.
The Defenders (2-0-0, 0-0-0 GPAC) broke a 1-1 halftime tie midway in the second half with a pair of quick strike goals in a one-minute span.
Dordt's Rindy DeNooy scored on a penalty kick on a foul called in the box in the 70th minute and Noelle Kreykes banged in a shot off a rebound of her own missed shot in the 71st minute to get the Defenders their final margin of victory.
Shoemaker helped the Saints climb out of a 1-0 deficit with a shot that slipped by Katie Kortman at the 34:17 mark in the first half. Her goal was assisted by sophomore Chelsea Fisher of Calgary, Alberta, her first helper of the year.
Shoemaker scored two goals against Northwestern, including the game winner in the second half. She currently ranks third nationally in total goals.
Ashford was outshot, 16-7, even though six of their shots were on goal.
Senior goalkeeper Kylie Willet of East Moline, Ill., made her first start of the season and recorded seven saves.
Ashford will host Trinity Christian College on its brand new artificial turf field for the home opener on the South Campus on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Saints upset the Trolls when they were ranked No. 8 in the nation last season.
