ADA -- It was not without a valiant performance, but the Heidelberg University women's soccer team was upended by the No. 21 Ohio Northern University Polar Bears by a final score of 3-1 on Tuesday night. Freshman Audrey Kaufman scored just seconds before halftime, but that would be all the Student Princes could manage on the night. 

The conference match was moved to Tuesday night to provide an opportunity for Heidelberg students to remain in all mandatory HYPE sessions with speaker Frank Warren scheduled to be on campus on Wednesday. 

With the loss, Heidelberg falls to 5-9-1 on the year and 1-5 in conference action. Ohio Northern improved to 12-2-2, 6-0. 

The Polar Bears grabbed the lead in the 15th minute after peppering the Heidelberg goal in the early goings. After ONU earned a corner, Rose Nienaber served the kick into the box which was finished off by Abigail Matthews -- her first goal of the season. 

ONU doubled their lead in the 29th minute on a goal from Jenna Fuller. The goal, which was Fuller's 14th of the season, was tapped in after passes from Jane Reiring and Megan Breier set her up from close range. 

As the hosts looked to carry the two goal lead into the break, Heidelberg cut the deficit in half in the 45th minute. Kaufman, who had the lone Berg shot of the game thus far, picked up a loose ball in the offensive third and beat the ONU keeper from a tight angle. The goal marked Kaufman's sixth of the season and first of conference play. 

Looking to tie the match, Heidelberg forced the ONU netminder into a sharp double-save in the 56th minute as Erica Campbell and Lexi Foley sent back-to-back shots on frame, both of which were kept out. 

Even with the increased Berg pressure, Northern put some distance between themselves as they regained their two-goal lead with a third in the 76th minute. Allison Contenza was the beneficiary of a cross as she tapped home. Haley Moses and Nienaber were credited with assists on the play. 

The Berg's last ditch effort to find a way back into the match was halted as Campbell's 89th minute shot was stopped by the Polar Bear's keeper. 

In the match, Meredith Bruce was credited with seven saves, while Meagan Grierson stopped six shots for ONU. 

Berg was led by three shots a piece from Campbell and Kaufman on the night, while Fuller took eight shots for the hosts. 

Heidelberg will return home for senior day on Saturday as they host Mount Union for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Hidden Valley. Seniors McKenzie Perry, Madison Crow, Kate Mundy, Erica Campbell, Anna Chalkley and Amanda Surgrue will be honored for their contributions to the women's soccer program.