Northwestern men’s soccer played a bend-don’t-break defensive style for the first 85 minutes of its match at Wisconsin, but broke in the 86th minute to fall 1-0 in its final road contest of the season.
The Wildcats (7-6-3, 2-5-2 Big Ten), coming off an upset win against then-No. 17 Indiana, combated the Badgers’ (7-8-0, 4-6-0 Big Ten) press attack throughout the game.
On the other side of the pitch, the Badgers’ staunch defensive showing prevented any consistent pressure from NU, with the ’Cats unable to muster more than two shots in a row in the first half.
As the final seconds of the opening period ticked down, NU had its strongest chance of the game thus far. With 10 seconds remaining before intermission, a set-up by senior forward Alejandro Martinez Santamaria left freshman forward Aaron O’Reilly alone against Wisconsin goalkeeper Matisse Hébert.
The clock hit zero right as O’Reilly lined up to take his shot, sending the ’Cats and their foes into the break deadlocked in a shutout. The teams were also neck-and-neck in shot count at five apiece.
Foul trouble could have cost NU early, as it committed four fouls in the first half, but the Badgers were unable to capitalize. The ’Cats couldn’t create anything off those possession changes or its three early corner kicks.
Coming out of the break, the defensive shutdown continued for almost the game’s entirety. Both teams settled into their signature styles, with the ’Cats dominating the middle of the pitch and Wisconsin using the long throw-in to consistently apply pressure.
The second half saw the offensive stalemate continue, with a combined two shots on goal. As the teams settled into what looked like a scoreless draw, the momentum changed in the final five minutes.
Things started off chippy, with Badgers forward Thomas Raimbault getting shown a yellow card for shoving freshman defender Andrew Johnson to the ground as the pair competed for the ball in the 84th minute.
NU couldn’t capitalize on the error, and Wisconsin started to build its pressure. For a few minutes, Wisconsin couldn’t break through the defensive wall before giving up a counterattack.
Following the counterattack’s fizzling, Badger midfielder Aidan Martinez sent a cross to midfielder Ola Arntsen, who leapt into the air to head the ball up to Raimbault.
Raimbault outraced multiple ’Cats to the ball before dribbling around senior goalkeeper Rafael Ponce de León and sending the ball past a diving Martinez Santamaria into the goal.
That goal demoralized the ’Cats, who couldn’t sustain any pressure over the final few minutes and were shut out for the first time since their Oct. 11 draw to Michigan State.
NU closes out its season at home Friday against Ohio State.
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