With two goals in a 2-1 win over Davenport on Friday and another in a 2-1 loss to No. 1 Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech Huskies forward Julia Pietila improved her offensive output to four goals through her team’s first five games. For the senior soccer star, the fast start has her leading the team in scoring.

The Huskies needed offense from Pietila on Friday. They trailed the Panthers 1-0 after a goal in the 56th minute put the visitors on the board. In the 63rd minute, she got to a ball that was kicked up to her by junior defender Olivia Gette, and she used her head to knock the ball into the net.

Then, she scored her second of the game 21 minutes later when she cut along the end line and kicked the ball into the lower right corner of the net.

Huskies coach Melissa Kuhar said that it was not the plan to call upon Pietila to score twice, but she was, of course, excited to see it happen.

“It was a good come-from-behind win for us,” said Kuhar. “Giving up the goal wasn’t planned, but having Julia be able to get two goals and put them away was great. It was a good team win.”

Pietila was quick to point out after the game that while she scored twice, it was the play of junior keeper Bri Barrows, and also the rest of the team, that gave the Huskies the chance to win.

“It was a good comeback win by our team,” Pietila said. “Everyone put in a full effort, even after going down a goal. It was good to see them keep the same energy we started with. It felt good to get two goals and Bri did a good job keeping us in the game.”

Prior to the season, Kuhar felt that Pietila, who has had success in the past, scoring seven goals as a freshman and three times as a sophomore, could find that type of success again this season. However, she also felt that Pietila and several of her teammates could find success by doing the little things well and taking chances when they get the ball.

“I think soccer is a cruel game, right? Like, a team alone can score a bunch of goals, a player can score a bunch of goals, and then, a month later, hit a drought,” Kuhar said. “That’s any sport, but, I think, for me, take any actual soccer playing ability away, I think it’s just the confidence to do it. That’s something I’m going to stress to all of our attacking players, if you don’t shoot the ball, if you don’t take chances, if you don’t, like, go 1-v.-1, you’re never going to score. So just do it.”

Pietila leads the Huskies with seven shots this season.

“Go and do those things, and things are going to happen,” said Kuhar. “Positive things are going to happen. So, (I am) really stressing to them, just do it. Building that confidence slowly through that kind of push. I think they’re all good players. How can you tap that confidence, that potential out of them? I think it’s just a culture you have, right? Bringing that connection, that care, and that into the culture you create in your team, builds that confidence and builds these kids wanting to be like, ‘Yeah, I’m going put my body on the line to score a goal for our team.’

“I care about them, and I like our team. I like my players. I think that’s all it will build. I think, honestly, I’m all about hyping people up, and I’ll be the loudest person cheering people on.”

Sunday, Pietila struck again just 11:03 into the game against the Lakers. She scored by getting behind the Lakers’ defense after passing the ball over to senior forward Taylor Noble, who moved it back to her once she found space.

“She just works hard, plain and simple, she works hard,” Kuhar said. “They’re not always the most beautiful goals. They’re scrappy, outwork people-type goals, and we need that from her.

“I told her that from the beginning of the year, we need her to put goals in the back of the net. I need her to put that ball there, and she’s taking that ownership, and she’s just playing. She’s having fun doing it.”

While Kuhar loves what she is getting from Pietila in terms of offense, she acknowledged Sunday that the Huskies need more output from the rest of the team in order to have sustainable success as the season progresses.

“I’m not going to complain about goals from her,” said Kuhar, when asked about Pietila’s play. “I mean, I think she should have had another one in the second.

“We just have to find some other people that kind of step up too, and score some as well. (We) can’t rely all on her.”

For now, Pietila is off to a great start to her senior year. She is driving the Huskies’ offense, and appears poised to have the biggest season of her career offensively.