Despite jumping out to an early one-goal lead, Northwestern lost its final game of the regular season 4-1 to in-state rivals Illinois on Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats’ (6-10-3, 1-8-2 Big Ten) lone goal came in the seventh minute by way of freshman forward Kate Hennen, but the Illini (8-8-2, 4-6-1 Big Ten) equalized later in the first half. A three-goal second half from the hosts put the game out of NU’s reach.

Hennen’s goal came after a low cross by graduate student midfielder Josie Aulicino into the box caused a poor clearance that fell right at the first-year’s feet. All it took was a one-touch tap towards the goal to put the ball in the back of the net.

NU kept the pressure coming, but the Illini responded. A foul by Aulicino in the 36th minute gave Illinois a free kick just outside of the box. Illinois forward Emma Yee tried a curling shot at the right post from the free kick spot that hit the woodwork, but Alyssa Weede was there to follow up the shot and tuck the ball in the goal.

Yee threatened the ’Cats with a close range a couple of minutes before the half, but the two sides went into the break with a 1-1 score. 

NU started the second half without junior goalkeeper Reiley Fitzpatrick, who had played all but 10 minutes in goal for the ’Cats this season. Graduate goalkeeper Madison Howard took over in goal. 

Illinois started the second half hot. The hosts took the lead in the 50th minute after a give-and-go passing pattern between Lia Howard and Sarah Foley left the latter one-on-one with the keeper. A one-touch shot by Foley beat Howard and secured the lead.

The Illini extended their control of the game in the 64th minute. A shot by Yee from outside the Wildcat box took a fortunate deflection off NU junior defender Brooke Miller. The deflected shot floated over Howard’s head and into the back of the net, extending the lead to two.

The final nail in the coffin came just shy of the 77th minute. Weede sent a looping-through ball to Abby Lynch that went just long. Howard came out of her goal to clear the ball out, but the clearance deflected off of graduate student defender Nicole Doucette and fell into the back of the net.

The ’Cats could not mount a late comeback and fell 4-1. NU outshot Illinois in both halves, but lacked the ability to finish.

NU’s singular conference win is its least since 2013. The ’Cats sit at 15th on the conference standings table with five points. This is the end of NU’s season.

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