Throughout its 2009 campaign, No. 18 Northwestern has not had a problem getting started.
During the team’s first two Big Ten games, though, the Wildcats struggled to respond once their opponent overcame that strong start and took away the momentum.
Against Penn State on Friday, NU once again got off to its customary swift start, but this time it was able to outduel host Penn State in a physical battle.
NU counterpunched its way to a 3-2 decision for its first Big Ten victory of the season and its first win over Penn State since 1997.
“It felt amazing,” senior forward Courtney Plaster-Strange said. “It was such an exciting game. A big thing for us is believing that we can win in the Big Ten and having the confidence in a game like this, and it felt great.”
NU, which has outscored its opponents 28-8 in the first half this season, broke the scoreless tie on a goal by junior defender Zoe Almquist with less than five minutes to play in the first half. Almquist deflected a shot from Chelsea Armstrong past the Penn State goalie.
The Nittany Lions responded shortly after intermission, knotting up the game less than two minutes into the second half. But NU (12-4, 1-2 Big Ten) buried a goal of its own only a minute later. Sophomore midfielder Kaylee Pohlmeyer found the back of the net on a penalty corner to give the lead back to the Cats.
“When they scored, we came back down right away and got a corner and a few good shots on goal,” coach Tracey Fuchs said. “What we do need to do is clamp down more after we score, sort of get better at putting teams away.”
The Cats could only keep the Nittany Lions off the scoreboard for seven minutes before Penn State tied the score on a penalty corner.
In the 53rd minute, NU took control of the game for good when Armstrong cleared room for herself on the left side and sent a shot sailing past the goaltender.
After Armstrong’s goal, it was the NU defense that sealed the victory. The Nittany Lions outshot the Cats 8-5 in the second half but were unable to take advantage of many of those opportunities.
“It was really about game management,” Plaster-Strange said. “Our defense played amazing. They just really controlled the game in the backfield. You get nervous when there are five minutes left and they’re in your circle, but we didn’t panic.”
Freshman goalie Amanda Wirth recorded three saves for NU. Defenders Sarah Marcincin and Stacy Uchida were also crucial to NU holding the lead.
“Sarah Marcincin, it was probably her best game of the season,” Fuchs said. “She and Stacy never came out of the game. Both of those guys play 70 minutes, and they play hard. They both did a great job.”
The physical contest saw six cards issued. NU received two yellow cards – which mandate a minimum suspension of five minutes each – and Penn State received three.
The Cats were a player short for a stretch during the first half, and the Nittany Lions closed out the game down two players who were out after receiving cards in the 69th minute of the game.
“It was a very physical game,” Plaster-Strange said. “Any time a game’s that close, it’s going to get tense. Luckily we didn’t get nervous and kept our composure.”
