North by Northwestern

Almost three years to the date after Tyler Miller’s three-save penalty shootout performance against then-No. 9 Indiana in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament, the senior goalkeeper narrowly missed playing the hero once again. Northwestern fell to the Hoosiers in another PK shootout during the quarterfinals of the tournament on Sunday at Lakeside Field.

Ninety minutes of regulation and two overtime periods weren’t enough to separate the two teams, who played to a 1-1 tie before entering what proved to be a six-round penalty shootout. With Northwestern trailing 5-4, sophomore midfielder Drew Rosenberg’s shot ricocheted off the crossbar, sending the Wildcats to a tough loss and ending their season in the Big Ten.

Northwestern proved to be a worthy adversary in defeat, registering four shots on goal to Indiana’s three, including senior defender Nikko Boxall’s header at the 37:52 mark that beat Hoosiers goalie Colin Webb for the equalizing goal. Earlier in the half, junior midfielder Cole Missimo had finessed a shot off the crossbar from the top of the box, narrowly missing out on the game’s first score.

Minutes after Missimo’s close attempt, Indiana’s Dylan Lax knocked in his first goal of the season just past Miller into the bottom left corner of the net, giving the Hoosiers a 1-0 edge. After Boxall’s header evened the score, neither team threatened much until overtime, when Indiana’s Tanner Thompson hammered a shot off the left post. Indiana continued to press throughout the period, but ultimately the two teams headed to a penalty shootout, in which the Hoosiers converted on five of their six shots on the way to victory.

Though Northwestern’s run in the Big Ten Tournament is officially over, the team will have another shot in the NCAA Tournament, which kicks off next week.