Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Wildcats Knock Off No. 25 Wisconsin, 2-1
9/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - For a defender, senior Carolyn Hack is sure finding a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
The senior -- who has started every match Northwestern has played during her tenure on campus -- blasted home a 10-yard shot after a loose ball bounced to her in front of the Wisconsin goal, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 victory against the 25th-ranked Badgers Friday afternoon at the Thomas Athletic Complex.
It was Hack's second goal of the season, and both have been overtime match-winners. In fact, three of Hack's six career tallies have ended matches.
"This was a huge win," said head coach Jenny Haigh, who beat her alma mater for the second time in her four-year tenure as the 'Cats got their first conference win of 2004. "Any win in the Big Ten is a good win, and a game like this shows us that we can compete with the best teams in this conference. It should give us a great dose of confidence."
Neither team was able to mount much of a threat during the first half; in fact, the best chance came from Northwestern (5-4-0, 1-2-0 Big Ten) and resulted in a goal. A free kick deep in Wisconsin territory was whipped across the goalmouth by Kelly Sitkowski and nodded home by Tabitha Lowey.
That goal stood until the 59th minute, when Wisconsin (6-2-1, 0-2-1) caught a break on its first major chance of the game. Amy Vermeulen stole in behind the NU defense and was taken down in the box by Wildcat goalkeeper Whitney Jones. A penalty kick was awarded, and Vermeulen potted it to Jones' left for a 1-1 tie.
Both teams had one great chance to take the lead in regulation. A Wisconsin breakaway went awry when the off-angle shot missed the goal, and then Hack took a direct free kick that rang the crossbar before falling away.
Hack was on the mark in the OT, though, corraling a loose ball that was the result of hard work along the end line by Julie Lipinski. Hack one-timed a volley that blew past a pack of Badger defenders, starting the celebration.
"Carolyn is one of our best technical players; that was not an easy shot, but she converted it," said Haigh. "There was great hustle on that play, and that was something we had addressed during the half. We wanted our players to take on their defenders, and that is what Julie did to set up Hack."
Northwestern outshot Wisconsin 10-9 and had six corner kicks to the Badgers' four in defeating its second ranked team in as many seasons.
The Wildcats are back in action Sunday afternoon, hosting Drake in a non-conference match at 1 p.m.
MATCH SUMMARY
Score by Half
#25 Wisconsin (6-2-1, 0-2-1) 0 1 0 - 1
Northwestern (5-4-0, 1-2-0) 1 0 1 - 2
Goal Summary
NU - Tabitha Lowey (Kelly Sitkowski), 33:19
WIS - Amy Vermeulen (penalty kick), 58:24
NU - Carolyn Hack (Julie Lipinski), 96:15
Shots: NU 10, Wisconsin 9
Corner Kicks: NU 6, Wisconsin 4
Fouls: Wisconsin 12, NU 10
GK Saves: NU - Whitney Jones 4; WIS - Lynn Murray 2
