CHICAGO -- Mike Roberge scored his first goal of the year, but Northwestern was clipped by SIU-Edwardsville 2-1 Saturday evening at UIC Flames Field.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 5-5-1, while the Cougars improve to 7-3-1. The contest was a rematch of an NCAA tournament contest from a year ago that was won by SIUE, 1-0.
Neither team mounted much of an offensive attack during the opening half of play, but the Cougars managed to go in front at the 32:21 mark. Devyn Jambga, manuevered his way around a pair of Northwestern defenders going to his left and then fired a shot inside the far post to give the visitors the lead.
SIUE managed four shots over the opening 45 minutes of play while the Wildcats had two.
Things didn't look good for Northwestern when the Cougars scored again at the 56:36 mark to take a two-goal advantage. Brett Lane tallied his first goal of the season when he put home a shot from 15 yards out, giving the guests an insurance goal.
Northwestern refused to go away, though. The 'Cats got a boost from Roberge who took a feed from Riley Kelliher and beat Kyle Dal Santo from eight yards out to get NU back within a goal.
The Wildcats pressured the Cougars for the final 20 minutes of regulation as they searched for the tying score, but they were unable to get it as SIUE held on for the win. The Cougars finished with advantages of 12-8 in shots and 8-3 in corner kicks. Zak Allen made three saves in goal for the Wildcats.
Northwestern is back in action at 7 p.m. next Friday when it takes on Rutgers at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 5-5-1, while the Cougars improve to 7-3-1. The contest was a rematch of an NCAA tournament contest from a year ago that was won by SIUE, 1-0.
Neither team mounted much of an offensive attack during the opening half of play, but the Cougars managed to go in front at the 32:21 mark. Devyn Jambga, manuevered his way around a pair of Northwestern defenders going to his left and then fired a shot inside the far post to give the visitors the lead.
SIUE managed four shots over the opening 45 minutes of play while the Wildcats had two.
Things didn't look good for Northwestern when the Cougars scored again at the 56:36 mark to take a two-goal advantage. Brett Lane tallied his first goal of the season when he put home a shot from 15 yards out, giving the guests an insurance goal.
Northwestern refused to go away, though. The 'Cats got a boost from Roberge who took a feed from Riley Kelliher and beat Kyle Dal Santo from eight yards out to get NU back within a goal.
The Wildcats pressured the Cougars for the final 20 minutes of regulation as they searched for the tying score, but they were unable to get it as SIUE held on for the win. The Cougars finished with advantages of 12-8 in shots and 8-3 in corner kicks. Zak Allen made three saves in goal for the Wildcats.
Northwestern is back in action at 7 p.m. next Friday when it takes on Rutgers at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.