Nov. 29, 2009
Box Score
TULSA, Oklahoma -- Ninth-seeded Northwestern (11-5-4) saw its bid for back-to-back trips to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals denied on Sunday as NU lost to eighth-seeded Tulsa, 1-0, at Hurricane Stadium. A backheel shot off the post and in by TU's Austin Neil with 17 minutes remaining stood up as the difference in the game.
This is the second consecutive year that Northwestern has been eliminated from the NCAA Championship by a score of 1-0. All five of its losses in 2009 came by a one-goal margin.
As it has for much of the year, Northwestern relied Sunday on the leadership of its senior class, which brought the 'Cats to four NCAA Championship berths, one round-of-16 appearance and two trips to the national quarterfinals.
"We have no regrets as far as this team is concerned," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "Our seniors were awesome all year and they were awesome today; all six of them played their best soccer. To be part of one of the most successful programs in the country over the last four years, it's something they can be proud of and their legacy is something that I'm really proud of them for."
The Golden Hurricane (15-4-2) outshot NU by a 20-11 margin on a very rainy day in Tulsa, but the 'Cats were not without their chances to score and both goalies, including NU senior Misha Rosenthal, were forced to make five saves.
The first half featured a litany of good chances for both teams, but it was the Golden Hurricane that looked poised to take the early lead on a pair of opportunities in front of NU's goal. On two different occasions, Tulsa swung in dangerous crosses headed for a cutting target. Jarrett Baughman stepped in front of TU's Kilian Poeschk at the last second to clear the first while Pat Coleman played the hero on the second, beating a TU player to a header in the 6-yard box to keep things scoreless.
The 'Cats got offensive over the last 20 minutes of the half, staging several quality counterattacks after Tulsa put numbers forward. NU nearly capitalized when Tulsa goalkeeper Andy Aguilar had his short pass in his penalty box intercepted and he was forced to make a diving stop to smother a shot by Matt Eliason. Oliver Kupe managed a shot on goal off the rebound that was blocked by a TU defender and deflected out for one of NU's two first-half corners.
Kupe had another chance a few minutes later when he got behind the Tulsa defense but had his one-timer shot smothered by Aguilar at the edge of the penalty box.
Midway through the second half, the two teams traded equally dangerous scoring opportunities less than five minutes apart. With 21 minutes remaining, NU earned a corner kick and, after the initial cross was cleared, sent in another pass that Kupe headed down for Baughman. The NU defender slipped in the act of shooting, however, and saw his attempt from eight yards sail high.
Just a few minutes later, TU's Neil was in the right place at the right time for Tulsa when a hard pass across the box found his feet. Neil reacted by redirecting the ball with a backheel that snuck off the far post and in, sending Tulsa through to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Northwestern continued to press on the offensive end over the final 15 minutes but was unable to find the back of the net, while Rosenthal recorded several big saves to keep NU within reach.
"Tulsa is a good team, no question," Lenahan said. "We split with them on the year but they happened to win the one that was probably a little more important."