Sept. 18, 2011
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Lakeside Field)
Score: Northwestern 2, Xavier 0
Records: NU (3-3-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten), Xavier (4-1-0)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Sept. 24 -- vs. Michigan State (Lakeside Field), 7 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Nikko Boxall and Chris Ritter scored first-half goals as Northwestern posted a 2-0 win over previously undefeated Xavier to claim the title at the Lakeside Classic Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats came into the match on the heels of a 1-0 win over UC Davis on Friday while the Musketeers had taken down 13th-ranked Northern Illinois 2-1 in overtime. The squads were forced to play amid rainy conditions that continually got heavier throughout the contest.
In a match between two teams that rely on being cohesive defensively, it was the 'Cats who struck first just under 12 minutes into the match. Northwestern earned a corner kick that was taken by Reed Losee. His service to the back post found the head of a streaking Boxall who put it past Justin Marshall for the score.
Xavier had not allowed a goal until Friday's match -- its fourth of the season -- but NU made it a 2-0 game at the 25:37 mark of the opening stanza. Oliver Kupe made a run along the end line and into the box and was taken down by a Musketeer defender, earning the Wildcats a penalty kick.
Ritter lined up to take the PK and his shot was partially stopped by Marshall but had just enough on it to make it over the goal line for Ritter's second score of the weekend.
Northwestern would finish the opening half with four shots, while Xavier had two as the opening 45 minutes of action were primarily played in the midfield.
The increasingly steady rains made things difficult on the offenses in the second half as neither team was able to dent the scoreboard, though Xavier had a 9-5 edge in shots.
The Wildcats were able to post their second consecutive shutout and fourth overall of the season, all credited to freshman Tyler Miller who made two saves in Sunday's match.
Ritter was named the tournament MVP, while junior defender Jarrett Baughman, Boxall and Miller joined him on the all-tournament team.
Northwestern returns to action at 7 p.m. Saturday as it hosts Michigan State in its Big Ten opener at Lakeside Field.
All-Tournament Team
Chris Ritter, Northwestern (MVP)
Jarrett Baughman, Northwestern
Nikko Boxall, Northwestern
Tyler Miller, Northwestern
Nick Hagglund, Xavier
Andy Kaplan, Xavier
Gino DePaoli, Xavier
Gael Rivera, Northern Illinois
Francis Otira, Northern Illinois
Omar Zeenni, UC Davis
Lance Patterson, UC Davis
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