LINCOLN, Neb. – Grinnell College's women's soccer team stepped out of Midwest Conference play Thursday and came away with a 2-1 victory at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
 
The Pioneers, who improved to 8-6, rallied from an early deficit to tie the contest at 1-all on Valencia Alvarez's '20 penalty kick in the 27th minute. It was her fifth goal of the season.
 
The score remained 1-all through halftime before the Pioneers took the lead for good in the 67th minute when Francesca Varias '18 tallied her team-high sixth goal of the season on a shot from 10 yards out.
 
Grinnell won the shots battle 9-7, with Alvarez and Varias each taking three of those and Lauren Hurley '18, Shaina Zarkin-Scott '18 and Quinn Berleman-Paul '21 adding one apiece.
 
Regan Kasprak '19 worked the whole contest at keeper for Grinnell and recorded three saves in collecting the win.
 
The Pioneers play a key MWC contest Saturday when Ripon College visits Springer Field. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.