Sept. 7, 2008
Box Score
EASTON, Pa. -
No. 16 Northwestern forced Lafayette goalkeeper Andrew Pianko to make eight saves, but the Wildcats were unable to find the back of the net in being forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with the Leopards Sunday afternoon as part of the Lafayette Classic.
NU's record moves to 3-0-1 with the tie, while Lafayette is now 1-2-1.
Misha Rosenthal made a season-high four saves to earn his third shutout of the season in net for the 'Cats.
"We knew we were going to have a tough match," Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. "They came in with a very good tactical plan against us. It was a very tough game. Give Lafayette credit; they played very well."
Both teams made charges to win the match late in regulation as Mark Blades and Pat Coleman each fired shots on goal with under five minutes remaining before Rosenthal stepped up and made three saves in the final two minutes of play.
Northwestern kept the pressure on in the extra sessions as it out-shot the Leopards 4-1, including two shots on goal by Piero Bellizzi. However, the Wildcats were unable to post the winning tally.
Opposing players are yet to score on Northwestern this season as the lone goal allowed by the 'Cats through their first four matches was an own goal against Iona on Friday.
Lafayette finished the contest with a 15-12 advantage in shots. Blades, Bellizzi and Eamon O'Neill paced NU with three shots apiece with each player putting two of the shots on goal. O'Neill had perhaps the Wildcats' best scoring opportunity of the match, but his shot rang off the post at the 24:09 mark.
Northwestern had four players named to the all-tournament team, including Bellizzi who was named the MVP. Blades, Tyler Voigt and Matt Eliason were also selected to the squad.
"We learned some things about ourselves this weekend in terms of coming back from a deficit Friday and playing a tough, physical game today," said Lenahan. "All in all, it was a good weekend for us."
The Wildcats return to action at 11:30 a.m. Friday when it takes on Eastern Illinois at the NIU adidas/Baymont Inn Invitational in DeKalb.