Manning Nets Superb First Collegiate Goal In Loss

Sunday, September 28

Columbus, Ohio

1:00 PM

Northwestern

4-6-2, 0-5-1B1G

Ohio State

5-6-0, 1-3-0B1G

Team	1	2	Final F
Northwestern	0	1	1
Ohio State	1	2	3

Michelle Manning's first college goal wasn't enough for the Wildcats on Sunday afternoon in Columbus.

Manning Nets Superb First Collegiate Goal In Loss

9/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sept. 28, 2014

Box Score

By: Jasper Scherer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michelle Manning scored the first goal of her college career in spectacular fashion, but Northwestern fell 3-1 to Ohio State on Sunday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The Wildcats evened the game 17 minutes into the second period, but the Buckeyes responded with two sterling individual efforts late in the game to earn the win.

Northwestern won its first corner kick in the 18th minute and worked quickly to try and catch Ohio State off-guard. With many of OSU's defenders still rushing back to the box, a dangerous Northwestern cross found purple jerseys unmarked in the box. But senior midfielder KK Barr's attempt to slide the ball past Buckeyes goalkeeper Megan Geldernick was unsuccessful.

Ohio State broke the scoreless tie in the 21st minute, when sophomore forward Nichelle Prince spun out of double-coverage in the corner and found freshman forward Sammy Edwards with a low cross near the middle of the box. Edwards met the cross with her right foot on the first touch for her team-leading fourth goal.

Northwestern made a bid to strike back, creating a promising attack during the 25th minute. But the 'Cats weren't able to create an opportunity in the box after the Buckeyes cleared a cross attempt.

In the 34th minute Addie Steiner's speed created a scoring opportunity that resulted in a Northwestern corner kick. Minutes later, Steiner broke free down the side of the pitch on a counter-attack, slammed on the brakes to elude a defender and created another chance that was turned aside.

The home team had several good offensive opportunities in the late stages of the first half that were denied by Wildcats freshman keeper Lauren Clem. She had her best sequence of the day with five minutes remaining in the first half, pushing aside a shot from 10-yards, and another save seconds later on a point-blank attempt at the rebound.

Trailing 1-0 at the half, the `Cats came out of the break with an aggressive approach, registering three shots in the first seven minutes. Northwestern maintained possession in OSU's half for the majority of the first 10 minutes, and were nearly rewarded in the 52nd minute when Steiner crossed the box and rocketed a shot off the far post.

Nortwhestern broke through in the 62nd minute when Manning's shot put the 'Cats on the board. The freshman tracked down a long free kick from junior defender Jennifer Korn and hit the first touch on the run with her left foot just inside the far post nearly 25 yards away.

Ohio State regained its lead minutes later on a superb bending shot from several yards outside of the box that sailed just over Clem's outstretched hand and into the top left corner of the goal. The home team added an insurance marker with under three minutes remaining in the game to cement the win.

Northwestern returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. when they welcome Illinois to Lakeside Field. Tickets are available at the gate, or by calling 888-GO-PURPLE.