Soccer: Men continue losing streak, women get a big win before falling in overtime

Northwestern women’s soccer (5-7-2, 3-3-1 B1G) went 1-1 this past week, earning an important win to remain in conference tournament contention before succumbing to a tough home defeat. Meanwhile, the men’s team (5-7-1, 1-3-1) fell in their only game of the long weekend.

On Sunday, the former squad kept up with second place Michigan but ultimately fell in overtime. NU tied up the game late with a dramatic goal from junior Mikayla Hampton, who fired it in off a penalty kick, making her the first Wildcat to score multiple goals in the 2019 season.

In the 88th minute, Michigan had scored off a corner kick to take the first lead of the contest. They then tallied the all-important golden goal in the extra session.

The Wolverines totaled 16 shots (and 10 corner kicks) throughout the matchup, while the Wildcats only took seven. Despite this, sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood helped keep Northwestern in the game with seven saves — her fifth game in a row with five or more stops.

On Friday, just two days before the loss to Michigan, the Wildcats overcame an early deficit to come out on top against Michigan State. First year Lily Gilbertson and graduate student Olivia Korhonen each added a goal for the Wildcats. Wood recorded six saves.

The men’s team suffered a similar fate to the women on Sunday, falling to Penn State in overtime in their only game of the weekend. An early penalty in the 17th minute forced the Wildcats to play man down for the majority of the game. They went up 1-0 in the 50th minute of the game behind a goal from Matt Moderwell, his third of the season, but the Nittany Lions responded with two goals in five minutes to take the lead.

Mattias Tomasino found the back of the net for the first time this season off a long free kick to send the game into overtime, but Penn State ultimately scored again to win 3-2.

The Nittany Lions took 26 shots to the Wildcats’ six. Goalkeeper Miha Miskovic had six saves, bringing his total for the season to 39.

Women’s soccer returns today to take on Ohio State on the road at 6 p.m. this evening, as they continue to battle for a spot in the conference’s top eight (and therefore the accompanying postseason berth). Men’s soccer plays Rutgers on Sunday, Oct 20 at Martin Stadium at 1 p.m.