Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Purdue
Northwestern Drops 2-0 Decision to No. 15 Purdue
9/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 27, 2009
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern women's soccer's bid for a second straight win over a ranked opponent fell short Sunday as the 'Cats fell, 2-0, to No. 15 Purdue at Lakeside Field.
Emily Langston (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) had two strong scoring chances for NU within six minutes of each other in the second half. The sophomore drilled a rocket that barely hit the crossbar - yet struck it hard enough to deflect away from the net - at the 50:50 mark of the match. Six minutes later Langston fired another blistering shot from the top of the box that went left of the net.
"Emily did a great job to get us a pair of quality shots," said Northwestern Head Coach Stephanie Erickson. "She beat the keeper and was just unlucky that she hit the crossbar. It was great execution on both shots to get them on frame."
Purdue (6-2-2, 1-0-1 Big Ten) broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute. Katie Seeger took a shot from the right side of the penalty box for the Boilermakers that Northwestern goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) punched away from the net. Edwards' punch headed directly towards Purdue's Katie Leinert, who buried her shot and gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Northwestern (4-6-1, 1-1-0 Big Ten) had a chance to tie the match off an indirect kick in the 79th minute. Bri Westlund (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) served the ball to the right side of the net where Jennifer Baumann (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) headed it across the box to Sam Greene (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica). The junior brought the ball down and fired a shot from 10 yards out that sailed over the net.
Purdue scored its second goal in the 85th minute off a shot by Seeger.
Northwestern senior Alicia Herczeg (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura Hills) made her 70th consecutive start for the 'Cats in the match. The milestone has only been reached a few times in program history; Herczeg ranks eighth on NU's all-time consecutive starts list.
NU returns to action next Sunday, Oct. 4, for a 2:30 p.m. CT match at Michigan. The 'Cats will play three straight games on the road before returning to Lakeside Field Oct. 18 to take on Michigan State.
