WATERLOO, Iowa - What a way to transition into the regular season.

Canadian freshman Hollie Babut of Oshawa, Ontario, scored two goals less than two minutes apart and the Ashford University women's soccer team passed its final preseason test with flying colors, pulling out an upset win over the University of Northern Iowa on Friday night, 2-1.

The Saints overcame an early fourth-minute goal from UNI's senior forward and leading returning scorer, Chelsie Hochstedler, and fended off the hard-charging Panthers, who finished with a 20-10 shot advantage.

The unprecedented victory over the NCAA Div. I Panthers caps a stellar preseason in which the Saints also gave the defending Costa Rica national champion, Arenal, all it could handle with a 3-3 tie.

Ashford opens the regular season next weekend at the NWC/Dordt College Pizza Ranch Classic.

"Tonight, we came in and wanted to play well knowing that the result was secondary," AU Head Coach Mick Regan said. "But it was a great performance tonight and the result was also great. I'm very excited about the direction of our program and the poise our players showed against a very, very quick team."

Northern Iowa, members of the Missouri Valley Conference, throttled one of Ashford's Midwest Collegiate Conference counterparts, Viterbo University, earlier in the week, 8-0.

Hochstedler's early goal prompted Regan to switch to a 4-4-2 formation and it paid immediate dividends.

Babut blasted home her first goal past UNI keeper Lauren Potzman in the 31st minute. She received a combined feed from another freshman, Alyssa Giancana of Eagan, Minn., and sophomore First-Team All-MCC'er Chelsea Fisher of Calgary, Alberta.

Less than two minutes later, Babut ripped a shot into the top corner of the net for the go-ahead and what turned out to be the winning score.

"I had a lot of nerves coming into my first collegiate game," said Babut of her Ashford debut. "Teamwork was what got us this win today. There was a point in this match where we picked it up and realized it was go time."

"This was a great way to finish the preseason, but we need to keep a positive mentality and work towards putting it all together in the end," she added.

Sophomore netminder Jerika Castillo of Iowa City made her presence felt in the second half, blanking the Panthers to the tune of four saves. Senior All-American goalie Kylie Willet of East Moline, Ill., made three saves in the first half.

Freshman forward Trisha Shoemaker of Bettendorf also tested the UNI goalkeepers with three shots on goal.

Despite the win, Regan is moving on with cautious optimism.

"Games like this will help us get game fit," he said. "One of our goals going forward will be more consistent. We will set the bar high against all teams. Northern Iowa was very, very quick and all over the field. We needed to keep fresh legs in there and keep them honest in open space."