Sept. 22, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Jeanette Lorme (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus)notched the game's only goal as the Wildcats defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 1-0 in a rain-shortened contest. The teams headed for shelter in the 72nd minute because of a tornado warning. It appeared the game would resume after a 90 minute delay, but it was called due to darkness.
The 'Cats and Hawkeyes traded shots during the first half, but neither team could find the net and went into the break scoreless. Northwestern recorded three shots on goal in the first frame with the best opportunity coming in the final ten seconds. Lorme rocketed a shot from 10 yards into the hands of Iowa's goaltender. Earlier in the stanza, freshman Leigh Jakes (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) took a shot in the ninth minute that appeared headed for the top-left corner from 30 yards, but the Hawkeye net minder turned it aside.
With thunderstorms looming, the 'Cats worked frantically to score the first goal of the match. They broke through in the 54th minute on a goal by Lorme. Reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Jenny Dunn (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Louisville) attempted to break through three Hawkeye defenders. She lost the battle, but the ball found Lorme who hooked a shot into the lower-left corner of the goal. The tally was her second of the season and gave the Wildcats the 1-0 advantage.
"We're happy to get our first Big Ten win," head coach Stephanie Erickson said. "It certainly isn't the way you want a game to end and although we showed moments of brilliant soccer, we still need to piece together a full 90 minutes."
The 'Cats are back in action at 3 p.m. Sunday against No. 18 Illinois at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex. The game will conclude Northwestern's nine-game home stand.