DUNBAR, Wis. -- Northland International University handed the Alverno College women's soccer team their first defeat of the 2009 campaign with a 4-1 nonconference loss this afternoon.

"We put forth a strong effort today and fought hard through the 90 minutes," Alverno head coach Brittany Oliveira said. "There's no doubt the team was feeling the effects of the third game of the week and less than 20 hours of rest."

The Inferno (2-1) played Mount Mary College on Tuesday and North Central University (Minn.) yesterday afternoon before making the near four hour trip to northern Wisconsin. Alverno trailed the hosts 2-0 at the half before freshman Kelsey Kochanowski (Oak Creek, Wis.) put the Inferno on the board with a goal 15 minutes into the second half. Kochanowski and senior Ellie LaFond (Waukesha, Wis./West) pressured NIU's back line to force a turnover that led to the goal.

"Ellie and Kelsey are starting to read one another better and they should be fun to watch this season," Oliveira said.

Northland International went on to score two more goals for the 4-1 final score, as Alverno was unable to threaten any further.

"We learned from today and continue to improve," Oliveira said. "Now it's time to rest, recover and start focusing on the games coming up next week."

The Inferno host Robert Morris College-Lake County this Thursday, Sep. 10 at 4:30 p.m. before opening up their Northern Athletics Conference schedule at Concordia University Wisconsin next Saturday, Sep. 12 at 4:00 p.m.