Northwestern saw few bright signs in back-to-back losses against Purdue and Indiana this weekend. The Wildcats fell 2-1 to the Boilermakers and 1-0 to the Hoosiers.
“It is very hard to lose over and over, and show up and play and go for it,” Cats coach Stephanie Foster said. “It’s asking a lot of our team – a young team – to get back out there, get your head up, and go for it.”
NU (1-11-0, 0-5-0 Big Ten) trailed Purdue (4-8-2, 1-3-1) by a goal at the half, but notched the equalizer less than two minutes into the final stanza. After senior midfielder Jill Dunn’s header was deflected away by Indiana goalkeeper Lindsay Campbell, Dunn corralled the rebound after a tussle in the box and put it away.
In the first half, the Cats looked helpless against a fast-paced Boilermakers’ offense, but NU was able to turn the tables after Dunn’s goal. The Cats had as many chances during the first 15 minutes of the second half as they did in the first 45 minutes.
But NU’s spell of control didn’t last long. After freshman goalie Anna Cassell knocked away a header off a Purdue corner, the ball fell nicely to Boilermakers forward Alex Hairston, who scored on her first touch.
“It’s disheartening that we had some momentum in the second half but we couldn’t put another away,” Dunn said. “But we’re trying to attack. We’re trying to get forward and get some goals in.”
In comparison, NU looked rather inspired in its performance against attack-minded Indiana (6-6-1, 2-3-0). For the first time this season, the Cats outshot a Big Ten foe, but the only shot that mattered was a strike in the 71st minute by Hoosiers midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy, set up by a cross from midfielder Monica Melink.
At the other end of the field, Campbell found herself occupied for much of the game. In the first half, a superb, flowing counter-attack set up by senior forward Emily Langston and sophomore forward Kate Allen ended up in a one-on-one opportunity for Dunn, but her shot was parried away.
In the second half, Allen’s try at goal from 25 yards out fell right into Campbell’s arms. Sophomore forward Bo Podkopacz had yet another attempt for NU releasing sophomore midfielder Julie Sierks with a through ball, but
Campbell was once again in perfect position to make one of her six saves on the day.
“We just need more courage with the chances we get so that we can put them away, because we were on top of this game,” Foster said.
