Women’s soccer: Strong start, tough finish in NU’s grand tour of Michigan

Never a bad time for your first win in conference play.

Last weekend, Northwestern’s women’s soccer team got a tour of the Great Lakes State splitting matches on the road against Michigan and No. 21 Michigan State.

On Oct. 17, the Wildcats picked up their first win in conference play, taking down the Wolverines 3-0 in Ann Arbor. A goal from Emma Phillips in the match’s 21st minute sparked the hot offensive start.

First-year Kennedy Roesch tallied her second assist of the season, inserting a cross from the left wing into a dangerous area. Phillips, making a run through the box, soared for the Robin van Persie-esque header, notching her third goal of the season to put the Wildcats up 1-0.

Taking a 1-0 lead into the second half, the ‘Cats continued to find their offensive groove with first-year Alex Fallon scoring her first goal as a Wildcat in the 52nd minute. Using a beautiful turn at the top of the box to scamper away from the Michigan defender, Fallon made no mistake, slotting it to the keeper’s left to double the lead.

Just 14 minutes later, the ‘Cats struck again, with Roesch tallying her team-high sixth goal of the season. On the left wing, Kelsey Kwon cut back to the middle of the park, feeding Roesch on a forward run. Even with a poor first touch, the nifty Roesch regained possession and position off her defender using her left foot to beat the keeper.

Roesch’s six goals mark the most by a Northwestern first-year since 2010, while Northwestern’s goals by multiple first-years in the same match was the first time since Danika Austin and Reilly Riggs helped the Wildcats beat Iowa 2-1 back in 2019.

Three days later, the ‘Cats made the trek to East Lansing, facing off an uber-talented ranked Spartans squad. Even with a career-high eight save performance from goalie Reiley Fitzpatrick, the ‘Cats left their offense in Ann Arbor, falling to Michigan State 1-0.

In the first half, Northwestern faced an onslaught with 10 Michigan State shot attempts and five corner kicks. Yet at the half, Fitzpatrick’s five saves kept the match deadlocked 0-0, even with Northwestern receiving the brunt of the pressure.

But the dam inevitably broke, with a Spartans’ score in the 58th minute. Great set up play from Meg Hughes and Jordyn Wickes gave Bella Najera the ball at the six-yard box. Fitzpatrick dove to the rescue, but Najera dribbled the ball to her right, passing it home smoothly for the lead.

The ‘Cats allowed 10 shot attempts and 10 corners in the second half alone, making any chance of getting an offensive opportunity difficult with the ball mostly in their own half.

Northwestern is back in action Sunday in Champaign to close out its regular season. Kickoff against the Fighting Illini is set for 1 p.m. CST on Big Ten Plus.