Thursday, September 20
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
7-1-2, 1-1-1
1
vs
0
#20 Penn State
5-4, 1-1
1
2
F
Penn State
0
0
0
Northwestern
1
0
1
No. 21 'Cats Knock Off No. 20 Nittany Lions
9/20/2018 9:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – A Kayla Sharples goal right before halftime and a stout defensive performance lifted no. 21 Northwestern to a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Penn State.
Northwestern (7-1-2, 1-1-1 B1G) recorded their first victory over Penn State since 2014, and their first regular season victory over the Nittany Lions since 1998.
Penn State (5-4, 1-1 B1G), who started the season ranked No. 4, was unable to get many quality shots against the Wildcat defense, with just six shots on goal and most coming from distance.
With both teams ranked in the top-25 coming into the game, and the two teams combining to have either won the Big Ten Tournament or Regular season every year since 2014, a tight game was expected.
Northwestern last met Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament title game last season. The Wildcats took a first half lead through Nia Harris, before the game was halted in the second half due to weather, with Penn State coming back for a 2-1 victory after the delay.
Tonight, the vaunted Wildcat defense was able to control the match, keeping the bulk of Penn State possession out of dangerous areas. Both teams traded possession in the middle of the pitch, with neither offense able to sort out the opposing defense.
With a left sided corner with just 30 seconds left in the half, Marisa Viggiano curled in a ball into the box. It bounced around and Sharples eventually poked it into the net. The goal was Sharples' second of the season, and the eighth of her career.
Viggiano, who was named to the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List in the preseason, recorded her 17th career assist on the goal. That moved her into sole possession of third place in the career assist leaders at NU, passing Sam Greene (2007-10).
Penn State pressed further forward in the second half, testing first-year keeper Mackenzie Wood with a couple long range attempts, but nothing came close to troubling her. The Northwestern defense kept steady pressure with six blocks in the game, and wound down the clock to finish the 1-0 victory.
With the Wildcats holding yet another foe scoreless, Mackenzie Wood recorded her Big Ten-best seventh clean sheet of the season. Northwestern hasn't conceded a goal at home against a conference opponent in the last ten games, dating back to Oct. 9, 2016.
Northwestern returns to Martin Stadium this Sunday, September 23rd, when its host Ohio State at 12 p.m., before finishing the homestand with a Friday night matchup against Michigan, on the 28th at 7 p.m.
Northwestern (7-1-2, 1-1-1 B1G) recorded their first victory over Penn State since 2014, and their first regular season victory over the Nittany Lions since 1998.
Penn State (5-4, 1-1 B1G), who started the season ranked No. 4, was unable to get many quality shots against the Wildcat defense, with just six shots on goal and most coming from distance.
With both teams ranked in the top-25 coming into the game, and the two teams combining to have either won the Big Ten Tournament or Regular season every year since 2014, a tight game was expected.
Northwestern last met Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament title game last season. The Wildcats took a first half lead through Nia Harris, before the game was halted in the second half due to weather, with Penn State coming back for a 2-1 victory after the delay.
Tonight, the vaunted Wildcat defense was able to control the match, keeping the bulk of Penn State possession out of dangerous areas. Both teams traded possession in the middle of the pitch, with neither offense able to sort out the opposing defense.
With a left sided corner with just 30 seconds left in the half, Marisa Viggiano curled in a ball into the box. It bounced around and Sharples eventually poked it into the net. The goal was Sharples' second of the season, and the eighth of her career.
Viggiano, who was named to the Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List in the preseason, recorded her 17th career assist on the goal. That moved her into sole possession of third place in the career assist leaders at NU, passing Sam Greene (2007-10).
Penn State pressed further forward in the second half, testing first-year keeper Mackenzie Wood with a couple long range attempts, but nothing came close to troubling her. The Northwestern defense kept steady pressure with six blocks in the game, and wound down the clock to finish the 1-0 victory.
With the Wildcats holding yet another foe scoreless, Mackenzie Wood recorded her Big Ten-best seventh clean sheet of the season. Northwestern hasn't conceded a goal at home against a conference opponent in the last ten games, dating back to Oct. 9, 2016.
Northwestern returns to Martin Stadium this Sunday, September 23rd, when its host Ohio State at 12 p.m., before finishing the homestand with a Friday night matchup against Michigan, on the 28th at 7 p.m.
••••••
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Team Stats
PSU
NU
Goals
0
1
Shots
16
2
Shots on Goal
6
1
Saves
0
6
Corners
11
1
Fouls
4
11
Scoring Plays
Kayla Sharples (2)
Assisted By: Marisa Viggiano
corner bounced around in box to 27
44:52
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
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