Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
5-6-1, 2-3-0Big Ten
Rutgers
8-4-1, 3-3-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Team Stats
Morgan, Drew (2)
Assisted By: Lurie, Mitch
Header GOAL by RU Morgan, Drew (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Lurie, Mitch, goal number 2 for season.
3:22
Hawkins, Brian
Scored off rebound on right side of box;
26:00
Hackett, Miles (6)
Assisted By: Taintor, Mitchell
Shot from 20 yards at the top of the cir
60:59
Missimo, Cole (1)
Assisted By: Hopson, Jeffrey , Dearth, Nathan
Headed by Hopson to Dearth, Flick from D
63:49
Ozumba, Elo (2)
Assisted By: Masri, Layth , Calistri, Joey
Layth pass to Calistri in front of box,
68:03
Wright, Jason (11)
Assisted By: Morris, Tyler
Pass through two defenders; Shot from ju
69:21
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
First Half Dooms Wildcats in 4-2 Loss to Rutgers
10/16/2015 9:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — A 2-0 first-half deficit was too much for the Northwestern Men's Soccer program to overcome Friday night as they dropped a Big Ten conference match against Rutgers at Toyota Park, 4-2.
The Wildcats had a great opportunity just 2:08 into the contest when a yellow card on the Scarlet Knights was called, setting up a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Freshman Camden Buescher took the kick and made a beautiful pass across the box to senior Nathan Dearth, but his sliding attempt went just left of the wide post.
The Scarlet Knights quickly turned around and created a set piece of their own with a corner kick off the foot of Mitch Lurie that found Drew Morgan in front of the goal for a header goal and a 1-0 lead just 3:22 into the contest.
The 'Cats' second stellar opportunity of the first half came in the 21st minute when senior Joey Calistri was taken down inside the box and awarded a penalty kick. Calistri went right of the keeper on his attempt and David Greczek made a diving save to keep the Wildcats off the broad.
Again Rutgers was able to counter as they extended the lead just five minutes later. Jason Wright created space to the left side of the box and fired a shot that senior Zak Allen saved, but the rebound bounced right in front to Brian Hawkins who fired into the back of the open net.
"You can't give up a goal four minutes into the game and be behind 2-0," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "We aren't built to play wide open like that. Although the game was exciting in the second half and we battled back and the effort was great, we're not built to win six goal games. We're built to win two or three goals games. That being said, our effort was great and we threw everything we had at them. We'll try to regroup and get ready for Notre Dame on Tuesday."
After the Scarlet Knights opened up their lead to 3-0 in the 61st minute on a Miles Hackett goal from 20 yards, the Wildcats were finally able to get their offense going.
A long throw in from junior Jeffrey Hopson bounced around inside the box before eventually coming back to him where he headed it to Dearth in front of the keeper. Dearth made a quick flick to senior Cole Missimo who fired a shot from six yards out for his first goal of the season.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to one, 3-2, less than five minutes later when senior Layth Masri made a long pass into the box to Calistri. The senior was able to flick it to sophomore Elo Ozumba just left of the box where he beat the keeper to his left from eight yards out.
Unfortunately, the Scarlet Knights came right back just 1:18 later when Tyler Morris split a pair of defenders with a pass and found Wright who scored from 16 yards out for his 11th tally of the season the final 4-2 tally.
Northwestern is back in action on Tuesday, October 20 versus Notre Dame at Toyota Park. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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