Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio
Northwestern Throttles Ohio, 6-0
9/3/2004 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 3, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern completely dominated Ohio University Friday afternoon at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex, scoring three goals in both halves to defeat the Bobcats, 6-0, in NU's home-opener.
Candice Cooper (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) scored three goals to lead the Wildcats while Meghan Small (Macungie, Pa./Moravian Academy), Holly Palin (Mequon, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) and Cassie Miller (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) all scored once for NU.
Palin also assisted on a pair of goals while Small, Ellen Schlafly (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) and Christine Nannicelli (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) had one assist each.
The Wildcats begin the season 3-0 for the first time since 1993, when NU head coach Kelly McCollum was a junior on the Northwestern squad.
The ten goals scored in its last two games is the most offensive output since Sept. 18-19, 1997 when NU scored 11 goals in consecutive games. Northwestern scored four goals in its previous game versus Kent State.
"We are just sticking to our gameplan," McCollum said. "We have different people scoring, too, which showcases our depth."
Cooper now has 12 points on the season, giving her 56 for her career and moving her into a tie for 20th place all-time in scoring at NU.
Northwestern also dominated on the defensive side of the ball, with sophomore goalkeeper Sherri-Anne Nyberg (Kelowna, British Columbia/Kelowna Secondary) collecting her first shutout of the season and the fifth of her career.
"We have a lot of strength in our defensive core," McCollum said. "This is the first game we really bore down. That is tough to do with such a big lead but we found a way to secure the shutout."
Cooper kicked off the scoring for NU in the 14th minute, then added her second goal in the 27th when she took the ball near midfield and dribbled through the entire Ohio (0-3) defense before putting it into the cage.
Palin scored just before the half to give NU a 3-0 lead. Small, Miller and Cooper each added a second half tally. For Miller, a freshman, it was her first collegiate goal.
Northwestern returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday when it hosts Fairfield at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex.
