Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Addie Steiner struck twice on Sunday and Northwestern held the nation's leading scorer in check on the way to dropping No. 19 Illinois 2-0 at Lakeside Field for their first Big Ten win of the 2014 campaign.
Kicking off a stretch where five of their final seven games of the regular-season will be played in Evanston, head coach Michael Moynihan's squad came out of the gate intent on taking the game straight to the country's No. 18 ranked team. The Wildcats pressed forward from the opening whistle and were rewarded in short order.
In the third minute, Addie Steiner gathered a ball from Niki Sebo and raced towards the Illinois goal. The visiting netminder made the decision to charge off the line and, with a defender running stride for stride with her, Steiner lifted a looping shot from 20-yards out over the keeper and into the back of the net for her team-leading seventh goal of the season and a 1-0 Wildcats advantage.
The two sides batted throughout the remainder of the first half, and traded fouls regularly in the battle for position and possession. The opening 45 minutes closed with three yellow cards in the book to Northwestern's Nikia Smith and Jackie Alyinovich, and Illinois' Sarah Warren.
Facing a one-goal deficit, the visitors attempted to solve the Wildcats defense but were turned away repeatedly by a back line anchored by Alyinovich, Smith, Kassidy Gorman, Margo McGinty and K.K. Barr, and defensive midfielder Nandi Mehta.
Illinois forward Jannelle Flaws, after breaking a program record with 23 goals in 2013, entered the game leading the nation with 14 markers this season. The senior was swarmed by Wildcats defenders any time she neared the ball, and while she led the visitors with six shots in the game, only one was on-frame.
Each time Illinois managed a scoring opportunity, freshman netminder Lauren Clem was up to the task. Clem registered six saves to post the fourth shutout of her rookie season.
With time winding down in the second half, the Illini pushed nearly their entire lineup forward in pursuit of an equalizer, but left themselves succeptible in the back, and the home team took advantage. A counter-attack put the ball in Steiner's possession near midfield and, as she advanced, the Illinois netminder ventured out of the goal. The sophomore from Prairie Village, Kansas, saw an opening and lofted a long (40+ yard) shot over the keeper's outstretched hand and into the net to nail down the 2-0 victory. Steiner shares third in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation with eight goals on the season.
Northwestern returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. when they welcome the Wisconsin Badgers to Lakeside Field. Tickets will be available at the gate or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
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