The ‘Cats dropped a game to Western Michigan before picking up a win over Marquette.
No. 9 Northwestern at No. 4 Western Michigan (September 6) – Western Michigan, 1-0
Looking to build on an undefeated start to the season, No. 9 Northwestern traveled to Kalamazoo on Friday to attempt to continue its momentum against No. 4 Western Michigan. The top-10 battle was easily NU’s biggest test of the year thus far.
Western Michigan put Northwestern to work as soon as the game began, getting off two unsuccessful shots and a failed corner kick in the first two minutes of the contest. The ‘Cats responded with a pair of corner kicks of their own, though neither were successful. That would be the closest NU would come to scoring in the first half, as the team was outshot 8-0 by the Broncos going into a scoreless halftime.
The Broncos broke the scoring drought just over two minutes into the second half, with Carson Hodgson booting the ball from 25 yards out to give Western Michigan its first goal of the day. That goal would prove to be all the Broncos needed to fend off the ‘Cats. Despite taking five shots to Western Michigan’s two in the second half, Northwestern was unable to capitalize on any of its attempts as it was shut out for its first loss of the season.
No. 9 Northwestern vs. Marquette (September 9) – Northwestern, 1-0
Looking to rebound in their first game since the loss to Western Michigan, the ‘Cats returned to Evanston Monday to host Marquette, which was coming off a 0-0 tie with Purdue Fort Wayne last Thursday in Milwaukee.
Northwestern’s Joe Suchecki took the first shot of the game just over three minutes in, with the ball hitting the side netting but not going in the goal. The ‘Cats and the Golden Eagles continued to exchange unsuccessful shots and corner kicks throughout the first half, though NU’s Paul Son nearly broke the tie just before half with an uncontested shot that went slightly above the goal. The teams would go into halftime deadlocked at zero.
The second half kicked off no different than the first half, with neither team able to capitalize on its shots. NU and Marquette struggled to put the ball in the net for over 40 minutes, with the game looking like it could very well go into sudden death. However, the ‘Cats were awarded with a crucial corner kick in the 84th minute. Collin McCamy kicked the ball in bounds, but it was Nigel Prince who heroically headed the ball off the crossbar and into the goal from six yards out to break the tie and give NU a 1-0 lead. Marquette would take two more shots after Northwestern’s goal, but neither were successful, and the ‘Cats returned to the victory column with their fifth win on the young season.
Northwestern returns to action this Friday, when it hosts UCLA for the first time since the Bruins joined the Big Ten this offseason. With UCLA receiving votes in the latest polls, the Bruins should pose a staunch test to the Wildcats as they begin conference play.