Northwestern University Athletics
Wednesday, October 25
East Lansing, Mich.
5 p.m.
Northwestern
10-6-2, 7-3-1B1G
1
at
0
Michigan State
6-11-1, 2-8-1B1G
1
2
F
Northwestern
0
1
1
Michigan State
0
0
0
Lovera’s Game-Winner Secures Home-Field Advantage for Northwestern
10/25/2017 7:23:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Brenna Lovera's game-winning goal in the 62nd minute clinched home-field advantage for Northwestern in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, as the Wildcats beat Michigan State Wednesday night in the regular season finale, 1-0.
Northwestern (10-6-2, 7-3-1) has guaranteed at least a third-place finish in the conference and could finish as high as second, pending the result of tonight's match between Penn State and Wisconsin. The Wildcats will host a team TBD in the quarterfinals at Martin Stadium Sunday.
The semifinals and finals of the Big Ten Tournament are next weekend at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
The Wildcats applied pressure all night on Michigan State (6-11-1, 2-8-1), outshooting the Spartans, 20-10, and it was Lovera's redirect on an entry into the box by senior Kassidy Gorman midway through the second half that finally put Northwestern over the top.
The goal was Lovera's fourth of the year and the 11th of her career. The junior is now tied for the program record with eight career game-winners. Gorman picked up her first assist of the season.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Clem earned her fourth straight clean sheet and her ninth of the season. She has 46 now for her career, which is tied for fourth all-time in NCAA history with Jackie Kerestine (North Texas).
Clem made five saves as she and the Northwestern defense are in the midst of a 381-minute shutout streak, which is the fourth longest in program history. Clem holds the top-two marks at Northwestern with the record at 658:58 set last season.
Junior Marisa Viggiano led the way with five shots, three of which were on goal. Lovera and first year Regan Steigleder each took three shots, with Steigleder challenging the Michigan State goalkeeper twice. First year Mikayla Hampton took a pair of shots, and seven more Wildcats tallied one apiece.
All told, Northwestern took 11 shots on goal compared to Michigan State's five and took eight corners.
Chicago's Big Ten Team secured home-field advantage for the third straight year and will look to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the third time in the last four years.
The complete Big Ten Tournament bracket will be released following the conclusion of all of Wednesday night's matches.
Northwestern (10-6-2, 7-3-1) has guaranteed at least a third-place finish in the conference and could finish as high as second, pending the result of tonight's match between Penn State and Wisconsin. The Wildcats will host a team TBD in the quarterfinals at Martin Stadium Sunday.
The semifinals and finals of the Big Ten Tournament are next weekend at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
The Wildcats applied pressure all night on Michigan State (6-11-1, 2-8-1), outshooting the Spartans, 20-10, and it was Lovera's redirect on an entry into the box by senior Kassidy Gorman midway through the second half that finally put Northwestern over the top.
WATCH: @Lovera_Brenna22 scores the game-winning goal from @kassidygorman. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/a87rZP1Me5
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) October 26, 2017
The goal was Lovera's fourth of the year and the 11th of her career. The junior is now tied for the program record with eight career game-winners. Gorman picked up her first assist of the season.
Senior goalkeeper Lauren Clem earned her fourth straight clean sheet and her ninth of the season. She has 46 now for her career, which is tied for fourth all-time in NCAA history with Jackie Kerestine (North Texas).
Clem made five saves as she and the Northwestern defense are in the midst of a 381-minute shutout streak, which is the fourth longest in program history. Clem holds the top-two marks at Northwestern with the record at 658:58 set last season.
Junior Marisa Viggiano led the way with five shots, three of which were on goal. Lovera and first year Regan Steigleder each took three shots, with Steigleder challenging the Michigan State goalkeeper twice. First year Mikayla Hampton took a pair of shots, and seven more Wildcats tallied one apiece.
All told, Northwestern took 11 shots on goal compared to Michigan State's five and took eight corners.
Chicago's Big Ten Team secured home-field advantage for the third straight year and will look to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the third time in the last four years.
The complete Big Ten Tournament bracket will be released following the conclusion of all of Wednesday night's matches.
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Team Stats
NU
MSU
Goals
1
0
Shots
20
10
Shots on Goal
11
5
Saves
5
10
Corners
8
4
Fouls
5
4
Scoring Plays
Brenna Lovera (4)
Assisted By: Kassidy Gorman
20 yards out, off a pass from a CK
61:35
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerD/M
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerF/M
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM
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