Dealing with an extremely high press and a two-goal star power showing from Amanda Schlueter, Northwestern Women’s Soccer (5-5-3, 3-2-1 B1G) fell 3-0 to No. 7 Ohio State (9-1-1, 5-1-0 B1G) Saturday.
The Wildcats were outshot by the Buckeyes 14-6, aiming just three shots on target compared to Ohio State’s seven. Ohio State also led the game in corners, 11-2.
Individually, Megan Norkett led the ‘Cats in offensive production with three shots. Schlueter had an all-around day for the Buckeyes, providing
two goals and one assist for the home side.
Northwestern’s Ava Goodin did not appear in the game after sustaining an injury against Indiana last Sunday.
Northwestern’s game started off on the wrong foot. Just five minutes into the match, Schlueter and Ava Bramblett combined for a 1-2 setup on the left side of the field. Schlueter’s ball passed through the ‘Cats’ three-back setup, and Bramblett’s momentum took her through to the box to slot it past Nyamma Nelson and make it 1-0.
The early goal did not stop the ‘Cats’ attempts to possess the ball, but Ohio State’s pressure continued to loom over Northwestern’s head.
In the 10th minute, Ohio State’s Elle Britt played the ball down the right sideline to Ava Greco, who pulled a dummy move to get Holland Carey on her back and charged to the front post. Greco slotted the ball through the six-yard box to Anika Poremba, who met a strong challenge by Gwen Zimmerman. Eventually, the ball landed with Berkley Mape, who put up a shot for the Buckeyes, but Nelson made a calm save for the ‘Cats.
The play was checked for a foul on Zimmerman in the box, but officials eventually ruled no error.
Northwestern’s first real chance in the opening 45 minutes came with 28:52 to go, when Sarah O’Donnell pickpocketed Ava Bramblett off a poor touch. Though O’Donnell fell after making the initial challenge, she poked the ball through to Elle Phillips, who tried to get off a shot for the ‘Cats but had two Buckeyes ready to clean up the mess.
Though the ‘Cats maintained a relatively steady amount of time on the ball in the first half, their build-from-the-back philosophy cost them in the 26th minute. Pressure from Callie Tumilty outside the box forced a misplaced pass from Nyamma Nelson into the feet of Schlueter, who grabbed the extra space and slotted it past Nelson to make it 2-0 to OSU.
A combination play from Schlueter in the 36’ curled in front of Naomi Lofthouse made it to Tumulti in front of the box, forcing Nelson and Lofthouse to come out and tackle down Tumulti.
Though it at first looked like Northwestern was going to dig itself deeper into this season’s penalty-kick hole, the offsides flag flew up against Ohio State, saving the Wildcats just before the halftime whistle blew.
At half, the Buckeyes led the ‘Cats on shots 7-2. They also committed 0 fouls to Northwestern’s two, flipping the script from Northwestern’s usual pattern of limiting fouls. Nelson had to put in the work for the ‘Cats in the first half, making three saves to Peighton Northrup’s one.
The second half was a lot less stable for Northwestern in terms of possession. The ‘Cats tried to put a high press on the Buckeyes but quickly crumbled after significant amounts of pressure from Ohio State affected its three-back system.
Megan Norkett was a bright spot in the Wildcats’ limited offensive production. In the 57th minute, she hit a left-footed shot to the top center of the goal, forcing Northrup to tip the ball over the bar and marking Northwestern’s best opportunity of the game.
On defense, Amber Weaver and Finnerty continued to shine for the ‘Cats. Weaver had a great moment in the 66th minute when she tracked back from behind to slide-tackle OSU’s Britt on the right flank. Three minutes later, Finnerty dealt well with an impressive threaded ball from Decker in the midfield to Tumilty in the box. Muscling Tumilty off the ball, Finnerty tried to keep the Wildcats’ deficit to two.
Yet, long balls continued to kill the ‘Cats. With 3:36 to go, Mape played a long ball through three lines of Northwestern players to Schlueter, whose speed left Zimmerman and Finnerty chasing the ball. Schlueter finished off the 3-0 game for the Buckeyes, getting herself a brace on the day and increasing her goal tally to 12 on the season.
Norkett tried to recover for the ‘Cats in the dying minutes of the game on the left side of the attack. She received a ball from Lofthouse just outside the halfway mark with 2:41 to go, beat an OSU midfielder and ripped a shot with her favorite left foot well outside the 18-yard mark. Northrup batted the ball outside the post for a corner kick, but that was Northwestern’s last true offensive chance of the game, leaving the score at 3-0.
The ‘Cats continue their road trip next against Rutgers on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. CDT. The Scarlet Knights have pulled off several close results against top teams in the country, including 1-0 losses to then-No. 12 Washington and No. 12 UCLA, and a 3-1 win over No. 14 Wisconsin last Sunday.
The game will stream on Big Ten Plus.
