Men’s Soccer: Northwestern stumbles after hot start

Big Ten play has not been kind to Northwestern.

After a red-hot 4-0 start that propelled Northwestern into the top ten and put the ‘Cats on track for a second consecutive double-digit win season, coach Russell Payne’s squad has faltered significantly. With no victories in their first four Big Ten matches, the Wildcats now sit at 5-5, making their chances of securing a first NCAA tournament berth since 2014 a long shot.

Here’s a breakdown of how the ‘Cats performed in their most recent games against No. 19 Maryland and Michigan State.

Sept. 27 vs. Maryland

From the start of the match, Northwestern felt the impact of star midfielder Colin Griffith, who quickly established his dominance on the field.

In the 12th minute, Griffith breezed past defender Bryant Mayer. But the Terrapins’ midfielder was brought down by Mayer, earning a penalty kick. Griffith’s teammate, Leon Koehl, stepped up and nailed the shot, giving Maryland an early 1-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for Griffith to strike again. In the 17th minute, following a brilliant no-look, behind-the-back assist from Luca Costabile, Griffith fired a shot past Northwestern goalkeeper Rafael Ponce De Leon, extending Maryland’s lead to 2-0.

Following Griffith’s goal, the ‘Cats managed their first attempt on goal in the 20th minute, courtesy of midfielder Colin McCamy, who sparked Northwestern’s aggressive offensive push in the first half. Despite holding a 4-3 shot advantage, Payne’s squad still entered halftime trailing 2-0, as Griffith’s brilliance proved too much to overcome.

Griffith continued to showcase his prowess in the second half, nearly scoring his second goal of the game in the 55th minute. However, he put too much power behind his shot, sending it off target.

Things finally started to turn around for the ‘Cats when junior forward Christopher Thaggard came off the bench at halftime, injecting much-needed energy into Payne’s squad. After enduring five consecutive scoreless halves, defender Luke Shreiner connected on a header from a free kick by McCamy, setting Thaggard up to cut Maryland’s lead to 2-1.

For the remainder of the contest, Northwestern had opportunities to tie the game against the Terrapins but failed to capitalize on crucial chances to score a second goal. One of the best opportunities came from Air Force transfer Thaddeus Dewing, who missed wide on a close-range shot. That miss ultimately sealed the fate of Payne’s squad, as Northwestern fell 2-1 to Maryland.

Oct. 1 vs. Michigan State

Throughout the game, the physical and aggressive nature between these two Big Ten rivals was clear, with a total of 29 fouls committed between them. However, the main storyline was the defense, as the Wildcats and Spartans remained locked in a 0-0 stalemate through the first half despite both teams registering three shots on goal.

Northwestern picked up the pace on offense in the second half, coming out strong with a couple of early shots. However, it was Michigan State that broke the scoreless tie when midfielder Jack Guggemos fired a rocket into the net off an assist from Jake Spadafora, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead that ultimately stood as the game-winner, handing Northwestern its fourth straight loss.

What’s Next

Northwestern has a golden opportunity to break its losing streak on Sunday afternoon when the Wildcats step out of conference play to face Division III Trine at Martin Stadium.