September 20, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. - No. 19 Northwestern played its most sound game of the year in a 4-2 upset of No. 10 Michigan at Lakeside Field this afternoon. Masterful play from their three backs -- freshman Katie Kovatch (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbrook South), senior Kristen Palmer (Huntington Beach, Calf./Marina), and sophomore Shay Unterreiner (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) -- combined with brilliant goalkeeping from sophomore Erin Ekeberg (Palatine, Ill./Palatine), allowed the Wildcats to control play in the first half and dominate play in the second.
NU surprised Michigan by driving down early and scoring on a shot by junior midfielder Erica Westrich (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) in the second minute. The two teams generated few first half scoring threats after Michigan tied the score 11 minutes later.
After a 20-minute halftime rain delay, the Wildcats scored seven minutes into the second on a header from freshman forward Katie Hertz (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg). Michigan evened the count again in the 69th minute, but NU regained the lead 46 seconds later on a penalty kick after a Michigan handball. Senior midfielder Kathy Zimmerman's (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) goal in the 87th minute punctuated the Wildcat win.
#19 NORTHWESTERN vs. #10 Michigan Sunday, September 20, 1998 Lakeside Field - Evanston, Ill. Attendance - 372Scoring by Periods 1 2 F Northwestern 1 3 4 Michigan 1 1 2
Scoring: 1. NU Erica Westrich (Katie Hertz, Kathy Zimmerman, 1:13); 2. UM Kacy Beitel (Nancy Mather, 12:15); 3. NU Katie Hertz (Kristen Palmer, 51:10); 4. UM Amber Berendowsky (Jessica Limauro, 68:43); 5. NU Kristen Palmer (unassisted, 69:29); 6. NU Kathy Zimmerman (Sarah Joehl, 86:14)
Shots: NU 11, UM 12 Corner Kicks: NU 3, UM 2
Fouls: NU 10, UM 18 Cards Issued: none Goalie Saves: NU 4 (Erin Ekeberg); UM 5 (Jessica Jones 4, non-keeper saves 1) Updated Records: Northwestern, 6-0-1, 2-0 Big Ten Michigan, 5-2, 0-2 Big Ten
NEXT NORTHWESTERN MATCH: Fri., Sept. 25 3 p.m. at Iowa