Northwestern University Athletics

Sunday, August 19
Bloomington, Ind.
11:30 a.m.

Northwestern

2-0

2
vs
0

Wake Forest

0-1

Team
1
2
Final F
Wake Forest000
Northwestern112
Brenna Lovera
Photo by: S. J. Carrera, Inc.

'Cats Stomp Demon Deacons For Second Straight Win

8/19/2018 1:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Northwestern capped off a perfect weekend to start the season with a 2-0 win over Wake Forest on Sunday at Bill Armstrong stadium as part of the Hoosier Cup Challenge. 
 
Senior Brenna Lovera made her first mark on the new season with a goal and an assist while sophomore Nia Harris scored as well. Sophomore Madi Kennel chipped in with an assist of her own. 
 
First year Mackenzie Wood posted her first career shutout with three saves. The Wildcats posted 11 shutouts one year ago and 17 in 2016.  First year Julietta Thron also made her first ever appearance in the starting lineup. 
 
The Wildcats have won their first two games to start the season in each of last three years dating back to 2015. The 'Cats notably won their first nine games of the 2016 season, while beating DePaul and Illinois State to start last year's campaign. 
 
The win over the Demon Deacons, who received 34 votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, is the first on this year's schedule against an NCAA tournament team from last year. The next such team the 'Cats will face is West Virginia on Aug. 26. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 9 in the same poll. 
 
The Wildcats also earned their second-ever win over an ACC team, with the first coming against Louisville back in 2002. 
 
Northwestern got off to a lightning-quick start to the game thanks to the pacey Harris. Lovera played her in behind the Deacon defense and the sophomore forward fired home her second career goal in the fifth minute to give NU a 1-0 lead. 
 
Wake Forest put pressure on the Northwestern backline over the course of the rest of the first half but it held strong thanks to a pair of saves from Wood. 
 
The #B1GCats opened the second half hungry for a second goal with a shot from Regan Steigleder just sailing over the bar and another from Kennel forcing a tough save from the Deacon keeper. 
 
The second goal finally came in the 65th minute. Kennel whipped in a cross into the box and Lovera met it with a thumping header that found the back of the net to make it 2-0. Lovera scored her team-high 12th career goal while Kennel notched her first career assist. 
 
Despite a chippy final 30 minutes that saw Wake Forest pick up a yellow card and Northwestern pick up two more, the Wildcat defense locked in,  allowing no shots after the second goal until the final whistle. 
 
Chicago's Big Team is back in action next week at the Boilermaker Challenge Cup with two Big-12 tilts in West Lafayette, Ind. The 'Cats play Iowa State on Friday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. and West Virginia on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m.
 

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Team Stats

WF
NU
Goals
0
2
Shots
10
8
Shots on Goal
3
6
Saves
4
3
Corners
9
1
Fouls
7
9
Scoring Plays
Logo

Nia Harris (1)

Assisted By: Brenna Lovera

through ball by 22, sent in past diving

5:10

Logo

Brenna Lovera (1)

Assisted By: Madi Kennel

crossed in from left, headed in to far p

64:02

Game Leaders

Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0

Players Mentioned

F
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
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