Sept. 9, 2005
Oakland at Northwestern Box Score in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill.-- As the overtime seconds ticked away, sophomore Kelsey Hans (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) broke free from Oakland's back line and rocketed a shot keeper Jessica Howard couldn't field cleanly. The shot rebounded off Howard and Tabitha Lowey (Peachtree City, Ga./Mcintosh) connected for the 3-2 game-winning score with two seconds left in OT.
"Since it is early in the season, it's good that we came out with a win," said head coach Jenny Haigh. "It was kind of scary in the second half because we didn't stay sharp, which led to big opportunities for them."
Northwestern stifled the Oakland offense, not allowing a shot on goal the entire first half. Hans recorded the Wildcats' first goal on a corner kick from Katie Wright (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), heading it into the the upper right hand corner of the net at 20:45.
After the half, NU picked up where it left off, as the 'Cats opened the second stanza with a corner once again by Wright that Hans slipped past Howard for the second score.
The game seemed to be the Wildcats to win, but a goal by Kristi Valeberg at the 76:32 mark followed by a second strike less than four minutes later by Marianne Samdal made it an entirely new game.
"Before we knew it, we had our backs against the wall," Haigh said. "But that is a great lesson for us, and I'm very happy with the way we responded in overtime."
The heated overtime session was riddled with six NU shots on goal, including four by Hans, and looked to be precluding a second overtime stanza before Hans and Lowey's last-second heroics.
"Kelsey (Hans) is extremely dangerous," Haigh said. "I think she proved that today. She had plenty of scoring chances and I'm glad she was able to finish a couple. She plays with such courage and strength."
Northwestern is now 4-1-0 on the season, and off to its best start since 1998. The 'Cats take on Davidson, a 3-0 winner over Kent State on Friday, in the third game of the 2005 Wildcat Classic at Lakeside Field. Sunday's match is set to begin at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by the final showdown between Oakland and Kent State.