Northwestern Knocks Off No. 3 UCLA, 1-0

8/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Aug. 29, 2010

Box Score

Site: Madison, Wis. (McClimon Soccer Complex)
Score: Northwestern 1, No. 3 UCLA 0
Records: NU (2-0-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten), UCLA (2-1-0, 0-0-0 Pac-10)
Next NU Event: Tuesday, Aug. 31 - at No. 19 BYU (Provo, Utah), 8 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. -- Freshman Kate Allen (Whitehouse, Ohio/Anthony Wayne) scored in the 54th minute Sunday to lift Northwestern to the biggest victory in the history of its women's soccer program, a 1-0 victory over No. 3 UCLA at the Wisconsin Tournament.

Allen scored off an assist from fellow freshman Julie Sierks (Edina, Minn./Edina). Sierks drove her way through traffic to the end line, then served a ball across the goal to the near post, where Allen finished straight into the back of the net.

The goal is the third of the season for Allen, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week. The win marks the highest-ranked opponent Northwestern has ever defeated.

"I thought we earned the win," said head coach Stephanie Foster. "I think you go into that game expecting to defend, which we did, but we also created a lot of good chances for ourselves and we were able to put one away in the second half."

"This is definitely the biggest regular-season win ever for our program," Foster added. "Hopefully everyone who has had a hand in building this program can feel a sense of ownership today and be really proud of being a Northwestern soccer player."

NU (2-0-1) made Allen's tally hold up with strong defense over the final 40 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) made several key saves and disrupted UCLA's 10 corner kicks. The Wildcat back line didn't allow the Bruins to mount a serious threat off a set piece the entire game.

"Our back line was so smart today," Foster said. "UCLA has incredible athleticism but we didn't let them get in behind us. And Carolyn really owned her box; she was brilliant."

Edwards only needed three saves to register her second shutout of the career. It was the 13th clean sheet of her career, moving the senior into a tie for third-place in the Northwestern record books with assistant coach Erin Ekeberg.

Northwestern dominated the scoring chances in the first half, registering four shots on goal to the Bruins' one. The 'Cats nearly went on top in the 43rd minute, when Emily Langston (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) found herself with a shot from point-blank range on the left side of the net. UCLA goalkeeper Chante' Sandiford made a diving stop to her left, but the rebound kicked back to Northwestern. Jill Dunn (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) crossed the ball back to the left side for Sierks, who put a second shot back on frame, but Sandiford was again able to handle it.

Strong defense also sparked a first-half scoring chance for the 'Cats. In the 30th minute, senior Ally Arca (San Leandro, Calif./Head-Royce School) jumped in front of a hard shot from UCLA's Chelsea Cline, blocking it all the way back to midfield. From there, Allen took the ball up the right side a fired a shot on frame.

The win keeps Northwestern unbeaten through three games for the first time since the 1998 season. That year was also NU's last appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Northwestern is back in action Tuesday night when the Wildcats travel to Provo, Utah to face No. 19 BYU. The match begins at 8 p.m. CT, with GameTracker available on NUSports.com.

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