Aug. 21, 2011
Site: Milwaukee, Wis. (Varsity Fields)
Score: No. 12 Marquette 1, Northwestern 0 (OT)
Records: NU (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten),Marquette (2-0-0, 0-0-0 BIG EAST)
Next NU Event: Friday, Aug. 26 -- vs. Cincinnati (Lakeside Field), 7:30 p.m.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Freshman Anna Cassell (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) made five saves in her collegiate debut, but an overtime goal lifted No. 12 Marquette to a 1-0 win over Northwestern Sunday night at Varsity Fields.
Cassell, who has spent the past six years in the U.S. Youth National and Olympic Development programs, was strong out of the gate in the season opener for the Wildcats, withstanding a series of early tests from the Marquette (2-0-0) offense. Cassell made a pair of saves in the first 20 minutes of the contest, and a third before the end of the first half.
"We struggled to sort things out early in our first game of the year," said Northwestern head coach Stephanie Foster. "But once we got it figured out I couldn't be more impressed with this group and how we played the rest of the game."
Northwestern (0-1-0) had a pair of strong scoring opportunities in the game, including in the final minute of regulation. A shot by freshman Georgia Waddle (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) hit the post with 40 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.
Waddle then had another chance in the extra session, but sent a shot wide of the Marquette net. On the ensuing attack, the Golden Eagles' Lindsey Page ended the match, beating Cassell with a low shot to the far post.
Freshman Sami Schrakamp (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) recorded the Wildcats' lone shot on goal of the evening midway through the second half. NU was outshot, 14-6, on the night. Kate Allen (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) took two of the shots for NU, including one midway through the first half that just missed high of the net.
"It was an incredible effort we put on the field tonight and that's really promising for the season ahead," Foster said. "Marquette is a fantastic team and very tough at home."
The Wildcats come home to Lakeside Field to open their home schedule next weekend. NU welcomes Cincinnati, Dayton and Loyola to Evanston for the Lakeside Classic on Aug. 26 and 28. Admission and parking are free for Northwestern women's soccer matches.
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