Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wildcats Jump On Minnesota Early, 3-1
10/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 3, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Three seemed to be the magic number for the Northwestern women's soccer team this weekend, at least for awhile.
After scoring three times in both halves Friday against Iowa, the Wildcats kept that pace up through one half Sunday against Minnesota. They came back to earth in the second half, but their first-half barrage was more than enough as they defeated the Gophers, 3-1.
With the win, NU (7-4-1, 3-2-0 Big Ten) has now won -- you guessed it -- three in a row in the Big Ten for the first time since the 1998 team started the conference campaign with five consecutive wins. NU is also unbeaten in four matches.
"I feel great about how this weekend went for us," said NU head coach Jenny Haigh. "These were good outcomes for us. I felt like we came to play in both games and really set the tone. We knew that we did not want to let Iowa or Minnesota hang around in a tie game or within a goal, and our players did a good job of opening up a cushion quickly."
That they did. In Friday's game the 'Cats were up 3-0 before the match was 21 minutes old. It took a little longer to get that advantage Sunday, but all Northwestern needed was time.
Tabitha Lowey got things rolling against the Gophers. The junior was led in on a breakaway by Beth Martin in the 20th minute, and was able to push a shot past Minnesota goalkeeper Molly Schneider while warding off a defender. Less than eight minutes later, Lowey scored again when she flicked a Shannon Schneeman shot into the upper corner past an outstretched Schneider.
Freshman Kelsey Hans -- one of four NU starters who hail from Minnesota -- added the third goal in the 32nd minute when she scored an unassisted goal. It was Hans' 10th goal of the season through 12 matches.
"I was happy with the way Kelsey played today," noted Haigh. "And Tabitha did a great job both ways, offensively and defensively. I think, offensively, we are playing hard and with purpose."
Northwestern scored nine goals this weekend and has 30 through 12 matches after scoring 21 all of last season.
Minnesota (3-8-0, 0-6-0) was able to get one of the goals back in the 68th minute when Haley Lentsch beat NU keeper Whitney Jones, and then a minute later the Gophers had another great chance that just went over the bar. However, this was a game that Northwestern dominated -- the 'Cats outshot the Gophers 16-5 and hit three posts during the course of the match. Schneider was forced to make nine saves, while Jones had three in the Northwestern cage.
The three straight wins could not have come at a better time for the 'Cats, who still have three home games left on the Big Ten schedule but must first face the daunting task of traveling this weekend to No. 21 Ohio State and No. 5 Penn State.
"I like where we are right now," said Haigh. "I'm looking for us to keep moving forward."
The Wildcats will meet the Buckeyes Friday at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 Central) and the Nittany Lions Sunday at noon (11 a.m. Central).
MATCH SUMMARY
Score by Half
Minnesota (3-8-0, 0-6-0) 0 1 - 1
Northwestern (7-4-1, 3-2-0) 3 0 - 3
Goal Summary
NU - Tabitha Lowey (Beth Martin), 19:34
NU - Lowey (Schneeman), 27:16
NU - Kelsey Hans (unassisted), 31:15
MINN - Haley Lentsch (Becky Dellaria), 67:04
Shots: NU 16, Minnesota 5
Corner Kicks: NU 6, Minnesota 3
Fouls: Minnesota 15, NU 13
GK Saves: NU - Whitney Jones 3; MINN- Molly Schneider 9
