Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Nebraska
Wildcats Top Nebraska In Season-Opening Slugfest, 4-3
8/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 22, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- In a game that saw all seven goals scored in the second half, senior Jenny Dunn's (Pacific Palisades Calif./Louisville) tally in the 87th minute gave the Wildcats a 4-3 win over Nebraska in their season opener Friday at Lakeside Field. All four seniors registered points and three Wildcats scored their first career goals.
With the win, Northwestern improves to 1-0-0 on the year while Nebraska falls to 0-1-0. Sophomore Carolyn Edwards (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) picked up her first collegiate win between the pipes.
The first half saw few scoring opportunities by either team, but Edwards was forced to make two saves. NU took six shots in the opening frame, but the Huskers kept the pressure on.
Business picked up in the second half, however, as Laura Janowitsch (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) opened what turned out to be the goal-scoring flood gates with her first career goal. The Wildcat senior had a free kick from just about midfield and used a friendly Lakeside FieldTurf bounce to put the Wildcats up 1-0.
Nebraska fired right back with a long distance goal of their own to even the score at 1-1. Anna Caniglia scored on a free kick from just outside the box.
NU took the lead back in the 56th minute when Hoffman started her senior season with the first goal of her career to put the 'Cats up 2-1. Amanda Hoffman (North Tustin, Calif./Foothill) took a rebound and scored with a shot to the far post.
The Wildcats took what seemed at the time to be a commanding 3-1 lead when Langston scored the first goal of her young Wildcat career at 59:15. She took a tip from fellow freshman Kelsey Bertamus (Burnsville, Minn./Lakeville South) and capitalized on a shot from in the box.
The Huskers would even the score on back-to-back goals by Michaella Fulmer. Her first, at 64:09, came from 30 yards out and was unassisted. Her second, at 70:08, came on a good teamwork play at the top of the box.
Things settled down until the closing five minutes of the contest. NU was able to come in on the attack and Leigh Jakes (McDonough, Ga./Eagle's Landing) -- making her first appearance since 2006 -- set up the play with a pass to Jeanette Lorme (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus). After Lorme was denied, a rebound came right to Dunn who put home the third game-winning goal of her career.
The Wildcats were able to hold on for a dramatic season-opening victory. NU out shot Nebraska, 17-13 and gained eight corner kicks. Edwards made three saves in net. Dunn led the way for NU with four shots and two on goal.
The Wildcats return to action at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 30, against LSU at Lakeside Field.
