The motley crew that left Patten Gymnasium clad in Halloween costumes Thursday returned from its western swing with an 0-1-1 record.
To start the final weekend of the season, the Northwestern women’s soccer team (4-9-5, 2-6-2 Big Ten) opted to forego its usual travel attire of dress clothes for Halloween costumes. Boarding their flight at O’Hare International Airport, the team received a variety of responses.
“People were kinda messing around with us,” junior sweeper Molly Greene said. “But for the most part, people got a kick out of it.”
Despite a 1-1 tie Friday at Wyoming and a 3-2 loss to Colorado College on Sunday, the Cats enjoyed their last trip as a team.
“We definitely had a good time out there,” Greene said. “It’s fun just to play our last couple of games together. We had a lot of laughs.”
NU’s battle with Wyoming ended in a school-record fifth tie of the season, as the game was called in the middle of the first overtime due to darkness, cold and snow flurries.
The scoreboard indicated a 1-1 tie, but the Cats said they should have won the game.
NU had two goals called back on what Greene said were two “pretty controversial calls.”
Greene had a goal denied on an obstruction call, and sophomore forward Ashleigh Garmon’s goal was discounted when the referee ruled that Cowgirls’ goalkeeper Sarah Kuyper had possession of the ball before it entered the goal.
Freshman forward Julie Lipinski notched NU’s only actual goal, connecting with a header off a Tabitha Lowey pass to give NU the lead in the closing moments of the first half. The Cowgirls evened the match in the 57th minute.
On their second stop, the Cats forced their third straight overtime match. But the team lost in the extra frame for the first time this season.
The Tigers’ Alex West netted the golden goal midway through the second 10-minute overtime period.
“We were pushing for the win,” Greene said. “They just got a good opportunity and put it away on us.”
The Cats were down early, pulled even and then drew ahead on goals from Greene and Lipinski.
Greene headed home a corner kick sent from midfielder Aileen Guiney. Lipinski recorded the second goal of the trip on a rebound.
NU generated 36 shots on the trip — their largest weekend total of the season.
“Our team was really pushing up and focusing on the attack,” Greene said. “We were creating a lot of chances. Our focus was to get creative up there.”
After the game, the Cats bid farewell to five seniors, including starters Kelli Wilson and Susie McCreery.
McCreery had five saves in goal Sunday for her final collegiate appearance.
Greene, who has played with McCreery for two seasons, said she had been impressed with the fifth-year senior’s renewed play.
McCreery remained on the sidelines for a six-game stint in the middle of the season after allowing 12 goals in a five-match period. She then came back to start the Cats’ final five games.
“She’s really come alive at the end of the season,” Greene said. “She’s been a force back there.”
Greene said the loss of the five veterans will make an impact next year.
“We have a great chemistry on our team,” she said. “We’re really going to miss those seniors a lot.”
