Wildcat Postseason Hopes Hang in the Balance After Draw at Iowa

10/21/2018 8:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Big Ten Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Northwestern played to a 1-1 draw against Iowa on the road Sunday in the regular season finale, leaving their postseason future to be determined.

The 'Cats moved to 10-4-4 on the season and 4-4-3 in conference. They are tied for eighth-place on points with Nebraska and hold the tiebreaker, but Nebraska has one game remaining against Michigan State on Wednesday.

If Michigan State wins, Northwestern will receive the eighth seed and travel to face conference champions Penn State on the road next weekend. If Nebraska wins or draws, Northwestern will have to sit out the Big Ten Tournament and wait until the NCAA Tournament selection show to learn of any potential postseason action.

Senior Marisa Viggiano scored the lone goal for the Wildcats, finding the back of the net for the second game in a row. After Iowa took the lead in the 10th minute, Viggiano scored the deserved equalizer in the 73rd minute after intercepting a pass, weaving through a horde of Hawkeye defenders, and lofting a ball into the top corner.

First year Mackenzie Wood started in goal and made seven crucial saves in the double-overtime draw.

The Wildcats outshot the Hawkeyes 18-15 in a back and forth affair that left Iowa out of the postseason picture. NU had five corners, and four of them came in the second overtime as the squad pushed for a winner.

The Wildcats' best chance to grab a golden goal came in the second overtime. Wood stepped up to take a free kick from just inside the Hawkeye half, and it bounced in the box and off the crossbar. Senior center back Kayla Sharples pounced on the rebound, but her shot was saved, and the next rebound fell to Nia Harris, whose shot was blocked.

Sharples started the 86th consecutive game of her career, marking the second-longest streak in program history.

Viggiano took 11 shots in the game as she tried to spark the offense. It was the most shots by any player in a game since at least 2011, when the program started tracking the stat.

The #B1GCats will await the results of Wednesday's match between Nebraska and Michigan State, which kicks off at noon in Lincoln.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!