By: Andrew Gavin (@GBGavin)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay women's soccer team brought the weather from its recent road trip back to Green Bay on Friday night, but the Phoenix (2-4-0) battled against the constant rain to build a 4-0 win and down visiting Michigan Tech (1-2-0) 4-2 in non-conference action. Appleton native Maria Lillge scored her first two career goals in the win, finding the back of the net in the 44th and 48th minutes.

The four goals scored by the Phoenix were the most since a 4-0 win over Northern Iowa back on Sept. 10, 2010. The six combined goals were the most tallied at Santaga Stadium since Green Bay defeated Cleveland State 5-1 on Oct. 11, 2009.

"I was really pleased with the way we came out and started the game very fast," said head coach Trevor Warren. "It was especially good to be able to get all the players into the game on parents weekend. Maria did great to get two important goals on both sides of half time to put us into a comfortable lead."

Senior Megan Braatz (Waukesha, Wis.), who entered the game with a team-high two goals, added her third just two minutes into Friday's contest to give Green Bay a 1-0 lead. Braatz used some skilled dribbling to find space at the top of the box before firing a left-footed shot past the keeper.

Despite outshooting the Huskies 12-4 over the first 43 minutes, Green Bay was unable to add to its lead until Lillge's first career marker late in the half. While falling down, the freshman booted an arching shot over Jenna Phelps' outstretched arm and into the net.

Warren, who played 24 players in the contest, switched keepers at the break. Sophomore Katy Pilarzyk (Madison, Wis.) earned the win by going the first 45 minutes and stopping two shots. Freshman Natascia Behle (St. Paul, Minn.) made four saves in the second half.

Lillge gave the Phoenix insurance early in the second half, scoring in the 48th off a rebound. Corralling the deflected shot of freshman Heidi Hartmann (Plymouth, Minn.) to the left of the goal, Lillge took a shot that glanced off the far post before heading into the net.  

Junior Renee Therrien (Winnipeg, Manitoba) took a pass from sophomore Emily Friedl (Kenosha, Wis.) and gave the Phoenix a 4-0 edge just three and a half minutes later, blasting a shot from 25 yards.

Michigan Tech scored goals in the 53rd and 71st minutes to cut the margin in half, but the Phoenix held on for its first home win of the season.

Green Bay finished with a 17-13 edge in shots and a 9-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Phoenix will return to action on Sunday, welcoming South Dakota to Santaga Stadium at noon.

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