Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Soccer Falls to #3 Florida
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
November 22, 1998
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The game was close on the scoreboard, but in the end the No. 20 Northwestern Wildcats could not penetrate the defense of No. 3 Florida. The Cats lost in Gainesville Sunday, 1-0, allowing the Gators to advance to the elite eight in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament. They will host No. 10 Penn State, the No. 7 seed, Sunday, Nov. 29.
Florida's only goal, a rocket from the top of the circle by senior Danielle Fotopoulos, was a record setter. Fotopoulos' unassisted goal broke Mia Hamm's career NCAA scoring record. The match was played in front of a vocal crowd of 1,431, NU's largest opposing crowd of the season. It marked the first time Florida had not won by more than one goal since its loss to No. 1 North Carolina Oct. 11.
Fotopoulos' goal came at the end of a first half in which neither team was able to sustain many significant offensive drives. Both teams played containment soccer.
Northwestern started the game tentatively as Florida controlled possession early, but the Wildcats played solid defense and began winning many balls 20 minutes into the game. Neither team could break free for a sustained offensive drive early. Florida was held to only five shots in the game's first 30 minutes, while NU had only four for the half.
Florida electrified the crowd with its first legitimate chance in the 28th minute, a shot in front by freshman Abby Wambach, off a cross. But NU sophomore goalkeeper Erin Ekeberg (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) came up big with the first of her season-high 13 saves. Ekeberg's aggressive play, along with the team's defensive work led by senior defender Kristen Palmer (Huntington Beach, Calif./Marina) would neutralize many more Gator scoring chances before they got started.
NU had several opportunities on drives by junior forward Christie Molitor (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) and junior midfielder Erica Westrich (St. Louis, Mo./Cor Jesu Acadmey) but each ran into what seemed like a Florida brick wall on defense. Both teams only managed shots from 18-feet away or greater, including Westrich's brilliant shot in the 30th minute from 35-feet that was punched away by Florida senior keeper Meredith Flaherty.
Early in the second half, the Gators came out firing with 11 shots in the first 11 minutes. Ekeberg held the fort, eventually racking up 10 saves for the half. Her best came off a blast by senior Melissa Pini in the 56th minute. NU defensive saves in the 67th and 74th minutes prevented two sure Florida scores. NU, playing with only two frontrunners in order to contain the Gator attack, was held shotless for all but the last five minutes of the half.
Weather: 72 degrees , cloudy, humidity 76%; wind NE - 10 mph
Attendance: 1,431
Referee: Gary Hindley
Assistants: Ray Grimm, Kevin Hines Fourth
Official: Morland Taylor
Scoring 1 2 F Northwestern 0 0 0 Florida 1 0 1
Scoring: UF Danielle Fotopoulos (unassisted, 42:18)
Shots: NU: 5, UF: 26
Corner Kicks: NU 1, UF 10
Fouls: NU: 16, UF: 15
Cards Issued: none
Goalie Saves: NU 13 (Erin Ekeberg), UF 2 (Meredith Flaherty)
Updated Records: Northwestern (16-5-1), Florida (23-1)
