WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Freshman Michelle Manning scored a 70th-minute goal to lead Northwestern to a 1-0 upset victory over top-seeded and national No. 6 Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday afternoon on the campus of Purdue University.
The marker was Manning's second consecutive game-winning goal after the rookie clinched the Wildcats berth in the Conference quarterfinals with a double overtime golden goal on Sunday against Minnesota.
Head coach Michael Moynihan's Wildcats adhered to a patient, disciplined gameplan early in the first half, staying compact defensively and countering effectively. The first outstanding chance of the match came midway through the first half when junior midfielder Nandi Mehta pinged a shot off the cross bar, sending a warning signal to the Nittany Lions. The first 45 minute ended scoreless, but with Northwestern earning the better of the chances.
The 'Cats came out of the halftime break confident after running step-for-step with the nation's No. 6 team over the first 45 minutes. The team created several chances early in the half, with sophomore Addie Steiner and Manning catalyzing from the forward positions.
With 70 minutes gone, Northwestern finally broke through. Manning picked off a pass in the offensive third, beat her defender down the left wing, and whistled a left-footed shot from more than 20 yards up and over the goalkeeper to the back post to give the 'Cats a 1-0 advantage.
Protecting a one-goal advantage, Northwestern clamped down on defense against the dangerous Lions. But the 'Cats continued to counterattack with speed when opportunities presented themselves. Steiner was a constant threat to slip behind the defense when Penn State pushed forward, and nearly extended the lead to two with a shot from the right wing on the break that sailed just over the crossbar.
As the time ticked down, the Nittany Lions threw everything they had toward the goal but freshman netminder Lauren Clem stood tall, particularly on a point-blank chance from inside eight yards with five minutes remaining. Clem and the Wildcats weathered the storm from the top-seeded Lions to secure the 1-0 victory.
Clem made seven saves in the win to record her ninth shutout of the season, tying the program record set by Wendy Scholz in 1997.
The win was Northwestern's first in the Tournament since 1997, and their first over perennial national power Penn State since 1998. It marked just the third loss for the Nittany Lions during the 2014 season, who defeated the 'Cats 4-1 earlier this season in State College.
The Wildcats advance to meet the fifth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday (Nov. 7) at 11 a.m. ET at the Purdue Soccer Complex. The two sides matched up during the regular-season on September 14 in Iowa City when the Hawkeyes earned a 1-0 win thanks to a corner kick that was curled directly into the net without being touched.
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