Sept. 28, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Jeanette Lorme's header goal off a corner kick in the 26th minute proved to be the game-winner as the Wildcats upset No. 17 Illinois Sunday at Lakeside Field, 1-0. Carolyn Edwards was stout between the pipes, stopping several close-range shots in the second half.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 6-4-1, 1-1 in conference. Illinois falls to 7-4, 1-1 in the Big Ten.
The teams wasted no time in starting the furious action that would dominate Sunday's game as six shots were taken in the first 10 minutes. Edwards made her first save in the ninth minute and Alicia Herczeg had an attempt blocked several minutes after.
Sam Greene forced a save in the 18th minute and she would then be the catalyst for NU's goal in the 26th minute. The sophomore fired a corner kick that was passed from Jenny Dunn to Lorme, who popped it in for her first goal of the year at 25:32 to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
Illinois recorded a couple of shots after the goal, but did not mount a serious threat the 'Cats took a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Illini stepped up the pressure right at the start of the second half, forcing Edwards to make two saves in the first six minutes. Greene almost saw another one of her corner kicks end in a goal as Amanda Hoffman forced a team save by the Illini and Dunn fired a shot wide off the set piece in the 59th minute.
Both teams spent the middle portion of the second half making substitutions to give players rest and set their pieces for the stretch run. The 17th-ranked Illini would mount a serious assault on Edwards and the Wildcat goal in the last 20 minutes, but the sophomore keeper and the defense held.
Illinois had corner kicks in the 70th and 71st minutes and fired shots wide of the NU net. Edwards was forced to make a stop off a corner in the 79th minute. The Illini fired another pair of shots wide in the 82nd and 83rd minutes before forcing another save in the 85th.
The Illini saved their last furious attack for the final minute the 'Cats made a team save to defend an open net and Illinois fired a shot wide to give the Wildcats a 1-0 win.
Illinois out shot Northwestern, 19-11 and took 10 corners to three for the 'Cats. Herczeg led NU in shots with four while Greene took three and forced two saves.
Northwestern returns to action at 6 p.m. Friday when it faces defending Big Ten champion Penn State in University Park. The 'Cats will round out the road trip by taking on Ohio State at 2 p.m. Sunday in Columbus.