CINCINNATI, Ohio – Northwestern won its second straight game in a row after a 2-0 shutout on the road at Cincinnati behind goals from Paige Miller and Nia Harris.
The Wildcats clawed back to .500 after their best 90 minutes of the season and now sit at 2-2-1. The 'Cats have taken seven points of a possible nine in their past three matches.
First year Paige Miller scored the first goal of her career in the tenth minute as the Wildcats pounced early to take a 1-0 lead. Her classmate Danika Austin received the ball near midfield, charged down the right side past a handful of Bearcats and slid a dangerous ball across the ball. Miller timed her near post run perfectly and had a deft touch to the back post.
Austin picked up her second assist in as many games, showcasing her playmaking ability in the center back role.
The second goal came in the 68th minute after a powerful shot from first year Marianna Annest on the left side of the box. The Cincinnati goalkeeper couldn't handle the blast and junior Nia Harris had perfect positioning to knock in the rebound and make it 2-0. The assist was the first of Annest's career and the goal was fourth of Harris' career.
Sophomore Mackenzie Wood and the Northwestern backline posted their first shutout of the year, with four saves from Wood. The Granger, Ind. native now has nine career shutouts and is one away from fifth place on the all-time list.
Chicago's Big Ten Team continues its East Coast swing as it heads to Cambridge, Mass. on Sunday to face Harvard. Kickoff is set for noon.
Match Notes
The Wildcats clawed back to .500 after their best 90 minutes of the season and now sit at 2-2-1. The 'Cats have taken seven points of a possible nine in their past three matches.
First year Paige Miller scored the first goal of her career in the tenth minute as the Wildcats pounced early to take a 1-0 lead. Her classmate Danika Austin received the ball near midfield, charged down the right side past a handful of Bearcats and slid a dangerous ball across the ball. Miller timed her near post run perfectly and had a deft touch to the back post.
Austin with the run ?? Miller with the clever finish ??
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) September 5, 2019
Poetry in motion. #B1GCats x #GoCats pic.twitter.com/AeS2eBvxu9
Austin picked up her second assist in as many games, showcasing her playmaking ability in the center back role.
The second goal came in the 68th minute after a powerful shot from first year Marianna Annest on the left side of the box. The Cincinnati goalkeeper couldn't handle the blast and junior Nia Harris had perfect positioning to knock in the rebound and make it 2-0. The assist was the first of Annest's career and the goal was fourth of Harris' career.
Sophomore Mackenzie Wood and the Northwestern backline posted their first shutout of the year, with four saves from Wood. The Granger, Ind. native now has nine career shutouts and is one away from fifth place on the all-time list.
Chicago's Big Ten Team continues its East Coast swing as it heads to Cambridge, Mass. on Sunday to face Harvard. Kickoff is set for noon.
Match Notes
- Harris is now the active Wildcats leader in points and goals with 8 and 4, respectively.
- Of the five Wildcats goals this season, three have been scored by first years. Miller joins Rowan Lapi and Aurea Martin on the season scoresheet, and all three are matched in points by Austin, who has two assists.
- Northwestern enacted revenge for their last matchup against the Bearcats in 2017, and now own a 3-2-1 all-time advantage against the AAC foe.
- Junior Madi Kennel made her first start this season after missing all but the first four games of 2018 with an injury. She made her season debut against William & Mary.