Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Wisconsin
'Cats Keep Season Alive; Defeat Wisconsin, 1-0
10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 31, 2008
Box Score
MADISON, Wis. -- Needing a win Friday night to keep its season alive, NU got a goal in the 81st minute from Alicia Herczeg to defeat the Wisconsin Badgers, 1-0. With the win, NU clinches a spot in the Big Ten Tournament field, and despite being selected to finish 10th in the preseason poll, earned a tie for fifth in the conference, the highest in Stephanie Erickson's tenure.
With the win, Northwestern finishes Big Ten play with a 5-5 record and a 10-8-1 record. Both marks are the best in Erickson's three-year tenure at the helm of the Wildcats. Wisconsin finishes the year 9-9-1, 3-7 in the Big Ten.
With the goal, Herczeg now has five game-winners in her career and two on the season.
The Wildcats could not mount much of an attack on the Badgers in the first half, registering only one shot -- a Sam Greene blast wide in the 27th minute.
Scoring chances were tough to come by for both teams as Wisconsin took three shots -- and forced two saves by Carolyn Edwards. The first half ended scoreless in what was a clean frame with only nine total fouls between the two teams.
Northwestern needed less than a minute to register it's first chance of the second half when Emily Langston had her shot saved 24 seconds into the second frame. Wisconsin had a chance to break the deadlock in the 53rd minute when a header hit the post.
Jennifer Baumann hit the crossbar with a shot in the 76th minute and fired one wide a few moments later. At 80:31, Herczeg put the 'Cats up 1-0 on the eventual game-winner.
NU held on for the 1-0 victory. Edawrds made two saves in the win and the 'Cats took a total of six shots and four corner kicks.
The Big Ten Tournament begins on Thursday in Iowa City. NU's game times and opponent will be released later in the weekend.
