Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Central Michigan
'Cats Continue to Roll
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NU-CMU Box Score
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Sept. 16, 2005
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern extended its winning streak to five matches on Friday, edging Central Michigan 2-1 at Thomas Athletic Complex. The Wildcats, off to their best start since 1998, improve to 6-1-0 on the season, while the Chippewas fall to 1-4-1.
On paper, it looked like CMU's offense would not be a threat, given that the Chippewas had mustered only six shots on goal during the last three matches. While the Chippewas' offensive woes proved true to form -- NU's defense allowed only one shot the entire first stanza -- the Wildcats could not find the net either.
After a scoreless first half, both teams came out with more fire in the second stanza, and NU found the goal first at 52:37. Sophomore Kelsey Hans (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) headed the ball towards goalie Anne Decker, who knocked down the shot. It rebounded back to Kelly Sitkowski (Elk Grove Village, Ill./Conant) whose shot deflected off Decker, but slowly rolled in for the first score of the match. It was Sitkowski's first goal of the year.
Hans added to NU's 1-0 lead on an assist from Stephanie Krutsch (Bloomington, Minn./Holy Angels). Hans, last week's Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, punched it in at 73:04. She now has a team-best five goals on the season.
The Chippewas answered only two minutes later when junior Alison Heydorn's shot snuck in to make the score 2-1.
While the outcome positive, head coach Jenny Haigh observed that the Wildcats will need to pick up the intensity on Tuesday against Valparaiso, the last match before the conference schedule begins.
"We need to sharpen up," she said. "We were lucky to get out of here with a win today. We need to make a better commitment to defending as a team and change our attacking mentality. We were too casual today."
Northwestern will battle Valparaiso on Tuesday at Thomas Athletic Complex. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
