Women's soccer set school record with 20T win over Wisconsin
For Northwestern women's soccer team, this season has been all about defying expectations. Did most people expect the Wildcats to end the nine-game unbeaten streak of Big Ten co-champions Wisconsin on Wednesday night? Probably not, but that's been the story for Northwestern all year.
Sophomore Kassidy Gorman scored the winner in double overtime, as the 'Cats escaped Madison with a 2-1 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers and clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the B1G tournament. The game will be played at New Trier High School in Northfield, Ill. as construction continues at Lakeside Field through the fall.
The game was a back-and-forth affair until the 74th minute, when Wisconsin junior Rose Lavelle opened the scoring with a shot that beat Lauren Clem to the upper far post. It was strange game for Clem, who was matched in goal by her cousin, Wisconsin redshirt sophomore Caitlyn Clem.
But with the Badgers 16 minutes from victory, Northwestern went to work. Junior Addie Steiner picked up a loose ball in the midfield and converted a breakaway opportunity to level the game at 1-1. Steiner leads the Wildcats with seven goals on the season.
Through the first period of overtime, neither team was able to break the deadlock, but in the second period, the 'Cats saw an unlikely hero deliver the game-winner. Kassidy Gorman has only scored one goal this season, but it will go down in history as the one that secured the best conference record in Northwestern history. Gorman beat Clem from close range to delver the 'Cats their seventh B1G win of the season, breaking a team record that has stood since 1998.
And Northwestern isn't done yet.
They'll host Michigan in the first round of the B1G tournament, as the 'Cats look to secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. They'll have to reach the Sweet 16 to match the best finish in school history, also set by the '98 team.
Men's soccer falls to cross-town rivals Loyola
Northwestern men's soccer (6-7-2, 2-3-0 B1G) has been playing all of its home games in the distant land of Bridgeview this season, but when given the opportunity to take the Red Line just a few stops away to Loyola (9-3-3, 2-1-1 MVC) the 'Cats fell flat in their closest game to campus this season, losing 0-2 to the Ramblers in non-conference play on Tuesday.
Loyola scored its two goals early, with Brody Kraussel and Kyle Thomson finding the back of the net in the 22nd and the 31st minutes, respectively. The 'Cats still had plenty of time to chip away, but they simply couldn't get much going, only tallying one shot on goal throughout the game and four shots total against the nation's second best defensive squad. NU played good defense in its own right, holding the Ramblers to just seven total shots, but, as in most sports, one generally must score if they expect to win a contest.
The 'Cats will be back in action on Sunday when they take on Penn State in State College and look to hold onto their third place standing in the Big Ten.