Sept. 2, 2011
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Lakeside Field)
Score: Northwestern 2, Virginia Commonwealth 1
Records: NU (3-0), VCU (1-2)
Next NU Event: Sept. 4, 2011 -- vs. Albany (Lakeside Field), 1 p.m.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern scored a pair of second-half goals before holding off a furious Virginia Commonwealth rally to earn a 2-1 victory Friday in the Wildcats' 2011 home opener at Lakeside Field.
Following a scoreless first half, Northwestern went on the attack quickly after the second stanza whistle blew. The Wildcats immediately made their way into the Rams circle, where Catherine Franklin ran around the right edge along the endline before passing into the middle, where a diving Chelsea Armstrong shot went just wide.
Mere seconds later, Regan Mooney corralled the ball and drove through the circle directly at the keeper, slotting a shot past her to put Northwestern on top, 1-0, just 1:40 into the second half. Ten minutes later, Armstrong caged her sixth goal of the year after driving to her right across the top of the circle and firing an unstoppable shot back to the far post to put the Wildcats up by two.
Virginia Commonwealth refused to wilt in the hot and humid conditions, fighting back for three penalty corners midway through the second half. Two of the shots were blocked and NU goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter made a terrific save on the third. With seven minutes remaining in the game, the Rams did break through for a goal but the Wildcats were able to hold on from there for the win.
"We battled for the full 70 minutes today to get a good result against a feisty and quality team," head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "We had a lot of chances early that we did not capitalize on and there are some things we need to correct for Sunday, but overall I'm very happy with the result and am looking forward to a great match Sunday against Albany."
Both teams struggled to get their momentum through the first half, with the first real scoring chance of the game coming close to halftime when Nikki Parsley sent a shot off a penalty corner whizzing just wide of the cage. Overall NU directed 12 shots on goal against VCU's five, while the Wildcats held a 5-4 edge in corners. Carpenter made four saves for Northwestern.
The Wildcats return to action at 1 p.m. CT Sunday, Sept. 4, against Albany at Lakeside Field.
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