IU Drops Big Ten Opener to Northwestern, 1-0

Thursday, September 15

Evanston, Ill.

8:00 PM

Indiana University

3-5-1, 0-1-0B1G

Northwestern

8-0-0, 1-0-0B1G

Indiana

NORTHWESTERN

9/15/2016 11:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Indiana Women's Soccer fell to Northwestern in Thursday's Big Ten opener, 1-0. The lone score of the game came in the 13^th minute of action off a rebound of a penalty kick.

"I thought we gave a great effort tonight," said head coach Amy Berbary. "We have clicked defensively, but we still need to find that chemistry 30 yards from goal. We created a bunch of chances, but it was a very back and forth game. It seemed like we had the ball for the better part of the second half, we just couldn't finish."

Following a tackle by IU junior Kayla Smith inside the box, the undefeated Wildcats (8-0-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten) were awarded a penalty kick. Brenna Lovera took the kick, which was initially saved by freshman goalkeeper Sarah L'Hommedieu. However, Lovera followed the rebound off L'Hommedieu's gloves and knocked it in to give Northwestern the early advantage.

The Wildcats outshot the Hoosiers, 4-0, in the first 20 minutes of the game before Smith sent one up that was initially blocked in the box by a Northwestern defender before falling back to goalkeeper Lauren Clem.

Six minutes later, sophomore Caroline Dreher sent one in from 30 yards out, but it was saved by Clem. The team's chances on goal were even throughout the game with each sending up five shots on goal apiece.

Indiana's strongest look of the first half came from sophomore Justine Lynn in the 31^st minute as she blasted the ball from just left of the 18-yard box. The ball sailed towards the far post, but Clem knocked it down.

Coming out of halftime, Indiana continued to create good opportunities. After the team earned a free kick from 25 yards out, sophomore Maya Piper got a foot on the service, but it was blocked.

Five minutes later, freshman Julia De Angelis chased down a service and put up a shot as Clem was on the ground near the top of the 18-yard box. However, Clem popped up just in time to knock down the ball.

IU (3-5-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) earned a pair of corners in the 58^th and 59^th minutes, but couldn't get a shot off to capitalize. Northwestern out-cornered the Hoosiers, 7-3, including a 5-0 advantage in the first half.

The Wildcats threatened to add a second score in the 62^nd minute after Nikia Smith's wide-open look off a rebound sailed just high.

Senior Veronica Ellis put up three shots in the final 22 minutes of the contest, but one was saved by Clem and the other two were off target.

Up next, Indiana travels to Champaign, Ill. to face Illinois (3-6-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon. The game is set to kick off at 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed on BTN Plus.

"Tonight really showed the team what a battle these next 10 games are going to be," said Berbary. "We're just going to have to fight and scrap for everything we can to try to come out this weekend with some points."