EVANSTON, Ill. -- Tenth-ranked Northwestern dominated the action for the majority of the contest, but top-ranked and defending national champion Connecticut got an early goal and then three more in the closing minutes to defeat the Wildcats 4-1 Friday afternoon in the season-opener for both teams.
The Huskies got on the board early as Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Charlotte Veitner scored on a reverse chip from 10 yards out off an assist from Sophie Bowden to make it 1-0 at the 2:44 mark.
The Wildcats responded from the early adversity and held the UConn attack in check for the majority of the remainder of the match. Following the goal, NU allowed only one more shot by the Huskies over the remainder of the opening half, including none over the last 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, the 'Cats notched four first-half shots and earned the only two penalty corners.
Northwestern came out the aggressors to start the second half as it put the pressure on UConn as it went in search of the tying goal. The Wildcats nearly had the equalizer 13 minutes into the stanza, but Isabel Flens' shot was saved off the goalline by defender Anna Middendorf.
NU earned five penalty corners over the opening 13 minutes of the half and UConn was forced to burn its timeout after narrowly holding the Wildcats at bay. In fact, Northwestern recorded the first 10 shots of the second period.
However, things turned when UConn was awarded a penalty stroke at 58:04 and Casey Umstead converted to give the Huskies a two-goal cushion. The goal may have taken the wind out of the Wildcats' sails as Veitner went on to add her second goal of the match and Amanda Collins scored another just over two minutes later to give the guests a four-goal lead.
Northwestern got on the board at 65:48 when freshman Eva van Agt scored on a deflection over the goalkeeper. Charlotte Martin was credited with an assist on the play.
That was as close as the Wildcats would get, though. NU finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and a 10-0 edge in penalty corners.
Northwestern returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Northeastern at Lakeside Field.
The Huskies got on the board early as Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Charlotte Veitner scored on a reverse chip from 10 yards out off an assist from Sophie Bowden to make it 1-0 at the 2:44 mark.
The Wildcats responded from the early adversity and held the UConn attack in check for the majority of the remainder of the match. Following the goal, NU allowed only one more shot by the Huskies over the remainder of the opening half, including none over the last 16 minutes.
Meanwhile, the 'Cats notched four first-half shots and earned the only two penalty corners.
Northwestern came out the aggressors to start the second half as it put the pressure on UConn as it went in search of the tying goal. The Wildcats nearly had the equalizer 13 minutes into the stanza, but Isabel Flens' shot was saved off the goalline by defender Anna Middendorf.
NU earned five penalty corners over the opening 13 minutes of the half and UConn was forced to burn its timeout after narrowly holding the Wildcats at bay. In fact, Northwestern recorded the first 10 shots of the second period.
However, things turned when UConn was awarded a penalty stroke at 58:04 and Casey Umstead converted to give the Huskies a two-goal cushion. The goal may have taken the wind out of the Wildcats' sails as Veitner went on to add her second goal of the match and Amanda Collins scored another just over two minutes later to give the guests a four-goal lead.
Northwestern got on the board at 65:48 when freshman Eva van Agt scored on a deflection over the goalkeeper. Charlotte Martin was credited with an assist on the play.
That was as close as the Wildcats would get, though. NU finished with a 15-8 advantage in shots and a 10-0 edge in penalty corners.
Northwestern returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Northeastern at Lakeside Field.