Box Score |
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Sophomore Addie Steiner netted her team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 97th minute Sunday afternoon to lead Northwestern to a 1-0 win over No. 14 Rutgers, the Knights first home loss of 2014.
Rutgers entered the match as one of the hottest teams in the nation with five consecutive wins, and had captured every point at home in 2014, posting a perfect 8-0-0 mark at Yurcak Field.
The two teams contested much of the opening 45 minutes in the midfield, with both squads exhibiting the defensive discipline that has placed them in the upper-half of the Big Ten in goals allowed. Scoreless at the half, Northwestern was outshooting the homeside by a 4-3 margin, with the best opportunity coming from junior Niki Sebo with a terrific individual effort to cut into the box and fire a low shot that was denied.
The second half began tentatively, but opened up as both teams searched for a difference maker. Both sides became more physical as time ticked off the clock, with four yellow cards handed out in the final 15 minutes of regulation, three to the home side and one to Northwestern sophomore forward Addie Steiner. But 90 minutes would not be enough as both Wildcats keeper Lauren Clem and Rutgers netminder Casey Murphy were up to the task whenever challenged. Saturday marked the first time the Scarlet Knights had been pushed to overtime at home in 2014.
In the 94th minute, the home team used a flip throw-in to send a long ball into the box, where Jackie Alyinovich collided with a Scarlet Knight and was whistled for a foul. Rutgers junior Erika Skroski stepped to the spot and whistled a drive to the lower-right corner. From her position on the line, Clem guessed correctly and dove in that direction, covering all the necessary ground to make the save as the shot bounded off the post.
Just three minutes later, Clem whistled a goal kick to midfield where freshman Michelle Manning gathered, shielded the ball from a defender, and in one motion spun and fired a long pass towards the Rutgers goal. Steiner zipped through the Knights back line, racing the oncoming Murphy for the bouncing ball. 30 yards from the net, the sophomore won the race and chipped a shot over the oncoming keeper and into the net for her team-leading ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 win.
The loss was Rutgers' first at home since Oct. 24 of last season, and Northwestern's second win over a ranked team in the last two weeks (No. 19 Illinois). Clem recorded five saves to secure the sixth clean sheet of her rookie campaign.
Head coach Michael Moynihan's Wildcats return home to Lakeside Field on Friday, Oct. 24, to host the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the entrance to Lakeside Field or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter and Instagram, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and sign up to receive promotional text alerts for the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!