Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
DePaul
Northwestern Falls at DePaul, 3-2
8/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 23, 2009
Box Score
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Alicia Herczeg (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) scored Northwestern women's soccer's first goal of the season, but the Wildcats gave up three goals in an 18-minute stretch of the first half and fell to DePaul, 3-2, Sunday at Wish Field.
Herczeg got the 'Cats on the board in the fourth minute when she put a liner into the upper right corner of the net from 15 yards out. The tally is the 12th career goal for the senior, NU's active career scoring leader.
DePaul mounted an aggressive response and had several good opportunities before answering in the 23rd minute when Tara Strickland headed in a ball off a cross from the right corner. That goal opened a flurry of scoring for the Blue Demons (2-0-0), who took a 3-1 lead into halftime.
Kay Sampson (San Francisco, Calif./Drew School) pulled Northwestern (0-1-1) back within one in the 48th minute. Sampson headed a corner kick from junior Sam Greene (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) into the net for her first goal of the year.
"Give a lot of credit to DePaul," said Northwestern Head Coach Stephanie Erickson. "Their work rate and intensity have to be respected. We dug ourselves into a hole and responded well to getting back out of it, but we have a lot to learn from this match."
NU managed two more shots on goal in the second half but DePaul goalkeeper Claire Hanold stopped both to earn the win. Carolyn Edwards (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) made three saves for Northwestern, which was outshot 9-7 in the match.
The 'Cats are back in action Friday at #24 Missouri. Northwestern returns to Lakeside Field at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, to face Loyola Chicago.
