MARQUETTE, Mich.—It was a debut to remember for St. Cloud State soccer's Brooke Bares, as the freshman midfielder notched a late brace to lift the Huskies' (1-0-0) to a season-opening win, 2-0, at Northern Michigan (1-1-0) on Friday.
 
Playing in her first collegiate game, Bares got the start and did not disappoint. The Fredonia, Wis., native opened the scoring in the 66th minute with a shot from just inside the box before sealing the game in the 86th minute with her second of the match.
 
Senior forward Abby McDonald provided the assist for both of Bares' goals.

"It is positive to see us competing together and raising our standards," head coach Gretta Arvesen said. "We are building and disciplined performances like today are a solid base moving forward." 

Despite SCSU's attack pouring on the pressure, the game remained a goal-less draw through the first hour-plus. The Huskies generated 11 shots before Bares broke though, but saw five saved by NMU junior goalkeeper Caroline Glantz, two blocked and one from junior forward Kate Fearing ring off the crossbar in the 30th minute.
 
SCSU out-shot the Wildcats, 17-9. Freshman forward Hannah Marion led the way with five shots and equaled Bares with three shots on goal for the game.
 
"Each match is an opportunity for us to improve," Arvesen said, "and we certainly applied our growth mindset in the second half."
 
Huskies senior goalkeeper Julia Clifford made seven saves, including four in the decisive second half, to earn her first clean sheet of the season.
 
Up next for St. Cloud State is a trip to Houghton, Mich., for a non-conference clash against Michigan Tech. Kick-off for that game is set for 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, September 4.