Oct. 16, 2011

Final Stats

DEKALB, Ill. - Against the defending Mid-American Conference Champions and top-team this season, Central Michigan (11-2-3, 5-1-2 MAC), the Northern Illinois Huskies women's soccer team (2-12-2, 1-7-0) MAC)  made a stalwart effort on offense and defense against CMU. The physical contest resulted in a 0-0 halftime score, but the Chippewas found the net for the only score of the match in the 57th minute and defeated NIU, 1-0.

"That was probably the best match we ever played against Central Michigan today," said Head Coach Carrie Barker, "We were able to organize our offense and we created several opportunities for ourselves, hitting the post and sending balls into the box, but we just did not finish them. They are a very good team and it was a physical battle."

Central asserted itself early in the match, taking seven shots in the first 20 minutes of the match, before NIU freshman Lauren Noonan flicked a header on net.

Sophomore goalkeeper Amy Carr made a great diving save to her right 3:45 into the match on a laser shot by CMU's Kaely Schlosser from inside the penalty line. Shortly after Noonan's shot, the Huskies gained their composure and began to control the ball in the midfield and worked its offense.

Freshman Allie McBride made outstanding runs, appearing from the bench, and pressured the Chippewas in the 38th minute. As McBride closed in on the 18-yard box  with the ball and collapsed the CMU center backs, she dished to sophomore Samantha Hill on a well-timed run past the defense and fired a shot towards net, forcing Central Michigan keeper Grace Labrecque to make a stretching save to her left. NIU was unable to collect the rebound before CMU cleared the chance.

In the opening seconds of the second half Hill struck again, receiving a cross to the left post and firing the ball from her left leg, that ricocheted off the frame of the goal to deny NIU the score. NIU finished with four shots on goal in the match, not including the ball off the post.

CMU's Estee Outcalt, who entered the game off the bench for an injured Chippewa, struck the lone goal of the match in the 57th minute, after the Huskies failed to clear the ball from the back line. Outcalt landed on the left side of the box and slipped the ball to the right of Carr in net for the score.

Carr finished the day with six saves and nine over the course of the weekend. The native of Hemel Hempstead, England snuffed out many of CMU's chances in the match, punching balls from the box and diving in traffic to collect loose balls in the box.

Northern Illinois will play its last road matches of the weekend when it heads to Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green Oct. 21 and 23.