Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Sydney Hagen of Iowa Central works the ball up the field on Wednesday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Following a pair of tough losses on the road, the No. 18 Iowa Central women’s soccer team got back on track here Wednesday at home.

Behind a late goal in the first half by Sydney Pettey, the Tritons clipped 15th-ranked Hawkeye, 1-0.

Iowa Central (5-2 overall, 1-1 in ICCAC) was coming off a pair of shutout defeats to fourth-rated Heartland and previously-ranked Northeast, the latter of which was the conference opener for the team.

“I was very proud of our girls for bouncing back with a big win,” ICCC head coach Jordan Sibenaller said. “I thought we moved the ball very well, which is a lot of credit to our midfielders, McKenna Hilton, Aly Villalobos and Gracie Lozenski.”

The Tritons opened the season with four clean-sheet wins, including a triumph over ranked Schoolcraft on the road. In those four matches, Iowa Central tallied 27 goals, but was held off the board in the losses to Heartland and Northeast.

“We talk about bringing extra energy for the first five and last five minutes of each half,” Sibenaller said. “I was glad to see Sydney get that goal with just 21 seconds left in the opening half.”

Pettey, a freshman, has scored two goals with a pair of assists on the year. Lozenski was credited with the assist on the game-winning goal by Pettey.

Iowa Central looks to close out the month with another win when they host Western Iowa Tech back here on Saturday at 1 p.m.