Dillenburg paces Storm in comeback win

LINCOLN, Neb. - Nicole Dillenburg scored two goals, the defense allowed only four shots and the Simpson women's soccer team recovered from a slow start in a 3-1 win against Nebraska Wesleyan in the season-opener Thursday night.

A three-time First Team All-Iowa Conference performer, Dillenburg lifted the Storm (1-0) early in the second half after falling behind 1-0 in the opening period. Her goal in the 54th minute made the score 1-1 and her game-winner came in the 71st minute.

Second-year head coach Ryan Sander knows the success of the team depends largely on Dillenburg, who registered the 28th goal of her career and the sixth multi-goal performance.

"We feed off Nicole in everything we do," Sander said. "For her to get that first goal settled her down and settled the team down. We go as she goes."

The defense did its part as well, holding the Prairie Wolves to just four shots on the night. Nebraska Wesleyan's only goal came in the 33rd minute and none of their shots came on goal. Megan Petersen and Jess Toyne split the effort between the posts for the Storm.

"Defensively we played well but there are some things we have to clean up," Sander said. "We played better in the second half than in the first because we played smarter, not necessarily harder."

Freshman Amber Johnson added an insurance goal in the 74th minute off an assist from Katherine Bird, a second team all-conference pick in 2010.

"We wanted to start out on the right foot tonight and we did," Sander said. "This was a good confidence builder for the team, one we can build on for this weekend."

Sander and the Storm travel to St. Paul, Minn. Saturday for the St. Catherine Invitational. Simpson plays the host at 11 a.m. Saturday with a second match Sunday, opponent to be determined.