A split weekend at Lakeside Field left the Northwestern women’s soccer team in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Big Ten standings with one week left in conference play.
The Wildcats dropped a 2-1 decision to Wisconsin on Friday but rebounded Sunday to notch a win and three points toward the Big Ten race against Minnesota.
NU’s 2-1 victory against the Golden Gophers upped the Cats’ point count to seven, a total shared by Iowa and Ohio State.
The Cats entered Sunday’s game in ninth place, but the win renewed hope of a berth in the eight-team conference tournament.
“It was imperative, we had no other option but to win today, ” midfielder Aileen Guiney said. “It feels really good to get it done.”
Minnesota (6-7-1, 1-6-0 Big Ten) struck first off a free kick from 35 yards out when Hillary Stowell found Annie Carr in the box at the six-minute mark.
NU (4-7-2, 2-5-1) continually applied pressure on the other end to Minnesota goalie Marni Prall. The sophomore made a number of acrobatic saves and cut off ball after ball that crossed into the box before allowing a goal.
The Cats pulled even in the 38th minute, when two substitutes combined for the equalizer. Sophomore Ashleigh Garmon had an easy time poking in her team-leading sixth goal after freshman Molly Maxfield found her with a precise cross in front of the net.
“That’s round two that Minnesota has to deal with,” NU head coach Jenny Haigh said of her substitutes. “It’s so awesome to have people come in and be able to get some points on the board for us.”
Guiney put NU ahead for good less than three minutes later, with freshman Tabitha Lowey collecting the assist. The goal gives Guiney a three-game scoring streak.
After a sloppy first half, NU cleaned up its act after the break, Haigh said.
“At halftime, we addressed our midfield shifting defensively and staying compact as a unit,” she said. “Our midfielders really did a great job of that in the second half.”
NU’s tightened defense limited the Gophers’ opportunities, and the Cats held on for the win through a scoreless second half.
The Cats’ defense effectively contained Wisconsin’s attack on Sunday. NU limited the Badgers (7-5-3, 3-2-2) to three shots on goal, but sophomore goalie Anne Helm was able to stop just one of the on-target balls.
Both of the Badgers’ goals came off the foot of midfielder Jenny Kundert.
“Kundert is a special, special player,” Haigh said. “She created her first opportunity out of nothing, and on her second goal she was very opportunistic.”
The Cats applied the majority of the offensive pressure throughout the game but still found themselves down 2-0 at the half.
“We had most of the play in our favor,” defender Molly Greene said. “We just need to work on not giving away those goals.”
The Cats’ lone goal came in the opening minutes of the second half when Greene crossed the ball to freshman Julie Lipinksi, who found Guiney. The senior stroked in the shot from 25 yards out.
While the Badgers capitalized on few opportunities, the Cats let too many good looks slip away.
“We could’ve done a better job finishing,” Haigh said. “We just mishit a number of balls.”
NU outshot the Badgers 11-7 in a match that constantly became more physical as it went on.
“There were tons of fouls out there,” Greene said. “People were getting stuck in hard. There was a lot of emotion out there, and that’s indicative of a hard battle.”
The Cats ended the game with some last-minute dramatics when Greene, who had moved up front, made a run and created a good look for Lowey. The forward made solid contact with the header with a minute to play, but her shot sailed wide right.
The Cats have regularly brought Greene, a 2001 first-team All-Big Ten defensive selection, into the attack when faced with a late deficit.
“Greenie is fast, explosive, and strong,” Haigh said. “She can take people one-on-one; she’s a great forward. It’d be nice to have two of her.”
Next week Greene, the team’s 2001 MVP, will lead the Cats against No. 9 Michigan and Michigan State as they attempt to hold onto their tournament spot.
