MADISON, Wis. – The last time Edgewood College's Ashley Alonso took a penalty kick was in a shootout at a high school state tournament. On Wednesday night, Alonso was placed in another pressure packed situation standing over a penalty kick in the 89th minute in a crucial Northern Athletics Conference match against Concordia University Wisconsin. Fortunately for the Eagles, the result was the same, as Alonso converted to hand her team a 2-1 victory.

Edgewood College's (10-2, 6-1 NAC) winning penalty kick began with a hustle play from Erin Peterson. The freshman from Verona, claimed the ball with a hard tackle and dribbled toward the middle of the field. She delivered the ball to senior Elaine Gerry. Gerry, near the top of the penalty arc, maneuvered the ball to her left foot, turned and fired a hard shot toward the Falcon net.

Gerry's shot didn't find the net, but it found a Concordia University Wisconsin (9-4, 6-2 NAC) defender who couldn't get her arm out of the way. The ball struck her hand at chest height, and the referee whistled for a penalty kick. In stepped Alonso, who had yet to score a goal this year, but had three assists from her defensive position. Alonso struck the decisive shot high and to the left and out of reach of Falcon goalkeeper Samantha Anacker.

After a scoreless first half, it was Edgewood College who drew first blood in the 62nd minute. Emily Dorsett collected the ball near the center circle and sent a perfect through ball up the middle to Gerry. The Falcons had done a reasonable job containing the NAC's all-time leading scorer until that point, but Gerry would not be denied this time. Gerry went low to the right of Anacker and buried the ball in the back of the net. The score was the 91st goal of Gerry's career.

Concordia University Wisconsin answered 11 minutes later. A scramble out near midfield put the ball on the foot of the Falcons' Lauren Straehler who fired on net from 35 yards out. Straehler's sinking drive eluded Eagle goalkeeper Tori Fortney to tie the match at 1-1. Despite the goal, Fortney still made six saves for the game and earned her third win of the season.

With the victory Edgewood College moves into a tie for second place in the NAC with Concordia University Wisconsin at 18 points apiece. However, the Eagles have the better conference record at 6-1 against CUW's 6-2.

Edgewood College will be home on Saturday for a Parents' Day game against Concordia University Chicago. Fans are encouraged to bring gift cards for Target, ShopKo or Wal-Mart, notebooks, pens, pencils or a monetary donation to support the Edgewood-Cabrini Green Partnership to support low income families in Chicago's Cabrini Green housing project.