No. 14 'Cats Stung By Golden Goal from Rutgers

10/4/2018 9:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 14 Northwestern was snake bitten by another golden goal Thursday night in a 1-0 overtime loss on the road to Rutgers.

The leading goal scorer in the Big Ten, Amirah Ali, snuck a volley into the far post in the 97th minute to steal the game against the run of play.

The Wildcats outshot the Scarlet Knights 20 to 8 and hit the post two times in regulation. They also earned nine corner kicks compared to five for the hosts.

Senior Brenna Lovera led the offense with four shots, while her classmate Marisa Viggiano had three, all coming on goal. Kayla Sharples had three efforts as well, two of which met the woodwork.

Northwestern drops to 8-3-2, and a 2-3-1 mark in the Big Ten while Rutgers improved to 8-1-4, and an unblemished 4-0-2 mark in conference. It was the seventh game in a row in which Rutgers went to overtime.

Both teams played through a chippy first half that featured just two shots on goal. The 'Cats came out of the gates strong to start the second period with a flurry of shots and corner kicks, but they could not capitalize.

The first clear chance of the game for NU came in the 75th minute on a set piece from the right side. Sharples met a Viggiano set piece with her head, but it bounced into the ground and off the post, and was cleared in a goal line scramble.

As the game wound down, Northwestern increased its pressure and nearly found a late winner. Sharples had another shot that deflected off the post, and Viggiano had two rasping shots saved by Scarlet Knight keeper Meagan McClleland.

In the 89th minute, the 'Cats had a point blank shot but just missed. A cross from first year Julietta Thron deflected off a defender in the box and fell to Kayleigh Stahlschmidt. The sophomore snatched at it with a first time shot and it fizzed just wide of the post from six yards out.

Despite a bright start to the overtime period, it was Rutgers that found the win against the run of play. With under four minutes to go in the period, Ali found the ball on the edge of the box on the right side and dipped a shot towards the back post. A tricky bounce evaded Mackenzie Wood and gave Rutgers the golden goal.

Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action on Sunday when it continues its road trip at Maryland. Kickoff is set at 1 p.m.

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