While Northwestern had most of the possession and seemed to control the game against Illinois, things can change in an instant when you're going against as prolific a goalscorer as Jannelle Flaws.
Flaws scored three goals to lead the Illini (8-6-2, 3-3-1 Big Ten) to a 3-1 win over the Wildcats (4-10-2, 1-6-0) Thursday night at Lakeside Field. The hat trick also put Flaws in the NCAA lead in goals scored.
It was a frustrating loss, particularly because Northwestern controlled the run of the play for most of the game and outshot the Illini 15-9. Senior midfielder Julie Sierks scored for the 'Cats, but it wasn't enough.
"It's hard," Sierks said of not being able to capitalize. "It's good we're creating the opportunities, and we just have to, hopefully, get a little lucky and keep going."
The game started off with a bang, as both teams pinged long-range shots off the crossbar. The early chances that were inches away from finding the net would be a sign of what was to come.
In the fifth minute, freshman forward Addie Steiner connected on a header off a Northwestern corner kick, and the ball slipped past Illinois goalkeeper Claire Wheatley's grasp. Even though it appeared to be headed in, Sierks finished it off to give the 'Cats the lead.
"Addie had a great header," Sierks said. "The goalie tipped it, and it was on the line, so I just hit it in."
Northwestern continued dominating possession, keeping the ball away from Flaws, who started the game second in the country with 15 goals. While the Illini kept trying to give her chances, poor clearances kept them from advancing past midfield.
Just over 20 minutes in, however, Illinois found its superstar. Kassidy Brown drove in a low free kick that rolled through the box past several NU defenders. Flaws found the end of it and smashed it past Wildcat freshman goalkeeper Jenna Hascher.
The 'Cats seemed to maintain momentum after the tying goal, but it was the counterattack that burned them when a long Illinois pass found Megan Pawloski streaking down the left flank. Pawloski took a couple touches before passing it off to Flaws, whose clinical finish from about 15 yards out gave her team the 2-1 lead. That goal also put her in the NCAA lead in goals scored. The Illini would take the lead to the locker room.
Northwestern continued to control the majority of possession in the early minutes of the second half, but in the 51st minute, the counterattack burned them again. Flaws chased down a well-played through ball from Allie Osoba and didn't take a touch before slotting it in the bottom left corner.
Even though the 'Cats continued to fight, Wheatley and the crossbar were unkind. Sierks sent a shot toward goal that got past Wheatley but hit the bar, and freshman midfielder Rachel Zampa came in later and had a free header, but Wheatley made a diving save to maintain the lead for the Illini. That would be the last major chance for the Wildcats, who are now alone in last place in the Big Ten. But if not for a couple of mistakes leading to goals, they might not have put themselves in that position.
"It was very preventable, all of them," Northwestern head coach Michael Moynihan said of the goals. "On two occasions, we weren't as alert as we needed to be, and they capitalized."
With just four games left in the regular season, the 'Cats would have to climb four spots in the conference standings to earn a Big Ten Tournament berth, which seems very unlikely at this point. And since they came up short tonight despite looking like the better team, it's especially frustrating.
"We beat them last year, but we outplayed them more tonight," Moynihan said. "That's what's hard to take."
The Wildcats will head to Columbus next for a matchup with Ohio State on Sunday.