Tactics haven’t changed much for the Northwestern women’s soccer team since last season — it’s the numbers on the scoreboard that are different.
The Wildcats (2-4-1) have employed their familiar 4-3-3 formation, the same attacking techniques and a similar look on defense — but NU has been involved in scoring frenzies compared to last year’s defensive-minded contests.
The Cats were shutout in more than half their games in 2001, but so far this year NU has found the back of the net in five of its seven matches. The consensus on the sidelines is that the offensive pick-up is due to speed.
“We’re a lot more dangerous now when we play balls through (the box),” head coach Jenny Haigh said.
The quickness upgrade on the offensive side of the ball is due to a freshmen class that features four forwards, including Nell Compernolle and Tabitha Lowey. Both first years have scored goals and broken into the starting lineup.
“The people we’ve brought in have been absolutely wonderful,” sophomore Ashleigh Garmon said. “They have great speed and great skill.”
In NU’s season opener against DePaul, both Compernolle and Lowey found the back of the net in a 2-0 victory at Lakeside Field.
The Cats then traveled to Salt Lake City to meet No. 23 Utah. Goalkeeper Susie McCreery’s nine saves gave the senior her sixth straight regular season shutout, and the game ended in a 0-0 tie.
But McCreery’s shutout streak didn’t get any longer. In their next game, the then-undefeated Cats received a rude awakening against No. 24 Brigham Young, losing 5-0.
On the next road trip, this time to the Bluegrass State, NU split games with Louisville and No. 19 Kentucky.
Against the Cardinals, Garmon posted a school record seven points, with a hat-trick and an assist in the Cats’ 4-0 win.
NU’s 2-1 loss to Kentucky marked the first time since 2000 that it lost when scoring a goal.
Last weekend the Cats returned to action at home with their first two Big Ten matches against Penn State and Ohio State.
Having been knocked out of last season’s conference tournament by the Lady Lions, Sept. 20 was a date the Cats circled on their calendars long ago.
“We really wanted to get a piece of them, to get back at them,” Garmon said.
Two first-half goals by the No. 12 Lady Lions backed NU into a corner, and a repeat of the two teams’ last matchup, a 3-0 Penn State victory, seemed likely. But the Cats battled back. Garmon scored in the 72nd minute, bringing NU within one goal, and the score remained close until the 88th minute, when the Lady Lions received a cushion goal that sealed their 3-1 win.
“It’s been rewarding to score,” senior Aileen Guiney said. “We’re giving the team a chance to win. But still we’re not putting it in the net at the rate we’re generating offense.”
On Sunday the Cats continued their streak of losses in which they scored. The Buckeyes won 2-1.
The onslaught of goals against NU comes as bit of a surprise for the Cats, who returned the core of a defense that allowed only 1.03 goals per game in 2001.
“We hope to tighten up a bit on defense,” Haigh said. “Our back line can do a better job when everyone on the field plays organized team defense.
“We take our non-conference season seriously, but the conference is a season in and of itself. We’re very excited for the up and coming Big Ten schedule.”
