Northwestern University Athletics
The 2002 Season In Review
12/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Dec. 3, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - As the 2002 soccer season approached, Northwestern women's coach Jenny Haigh expressed excitement at the possible explosiveness of her offense. With some key returnees up front and a superb group of freshmen coming in, her enthusiasm seemed justified.
Preseason hype was realized -- the Wildcats scored in all but three games this season. The problem ended up being the ability to keep the ball out of the Northwestern goal.
After allowing just 20 goals in 19 matches in 2001, NU allowed 30 goals in 18 matches this season. The result was a 4-9-5 campaign that was at times disappointing and frustrating.
"It was definitely a tough way to go," said Haigh. "When I look back at our games from this season, I see a lot that could have gone our way but didn't. That's frustrating."
The Wildcats set a school record by tying five matches, and it seemed appropriate that the only overtime match that reached a decision came in the season finale and ended as a Northwestern loss.
The season showed promise early -- after a 2-0 win over DePaul in the opener (with the goals from freshmen Nell Compernolle and Tabitha Lowey), NU drew with nationally ranked Utah, 0-0. That was followed by a loss to another nationally ranked team, Brigham Young, but then the 'Cats responded with a 4-0 win at Lousville. Sophomore Ashleigh Garmon broke out against the Cardinals, setting a school record with three goals and an assist for seven points.
Hard luck followed. NU fell to No. 19 Kentucky, 2-1, then failed to get a point at home vs. No. 12 Penn State (3-1 in a game that could have gone either way) or Ohio State (2-1 loss). The 'Cats ended the skein with a 1-0 win at Iowa on Garmon's gamewinner, but that was followed by losses to Illinois (3-1) and 22nd-ranked Purdue (2-1).
Two days after the loss to Purdue, NU seemed to come to life against Indiana with two goals in the first six minutes. The Hoosiers came back, though, and earned the 2-2 draw in a critical midseason match.
In a conference that was loaded this season -- the Big Ten sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament -- NU came home for the final four conference matches knowing it needed points desperately. A loss to Wisconsin (2-1) was followed by a win over Minnesota (2-1). In the penultimate Big Ten match of the season, NU outshot Michigan State by a staggering 20-6 total but could only manage a 1-1 draw. Two days later, the Wildcats played No. 13 Michigan even for nearly 75 minutes, before the Wolverines scored two late goals to dash NU's postseason hopes with a 2-0 win.
The season ended with ties vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-1) and Wyoming (1-1), before the season-closing loss to Colorado College in OT (3-2).
Two NU players were recognized for their play this season. Midfielder Aileen Guiney finished the season with three goals and nine assists for 15 points, and she had five assists and 11 points in Big Ten play which are school records. She was named first-team All-Big Ten. Sweeper Molly Greene, meanwhile, earned second-team All-Big Ten. Both players will return for their final season in 2003.
Also back is Garmon, who led NU with six goals. In fact, a quick look at the statistics reveals that every player who recorded a point for the Wildcats this season will be back on the roster next season.
"I'm already excited about next year," said Haigh. "We have tons of talent returning, and I think they're learning how much work it takes to become a great program. Our players are hungry to turn things around, and they know they're not that far from making that happen."
