Aug. 28, 2010

Box Score

Site: Syracuse, N.Y. (J.S. Coyne Stadium)
Score: Northwestern 4, Northeastern 2
Records: NU (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten), Northeastern (0-1, 0-0 AEC)
Next NU Event: Monday, Aug. 30 -- at Colgate (Hamilton, N.Y.), 6 p.m. CT
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Despite falling behind 2-0 after 30 minutes, Northwestern rallied to score one goal in the first half and three in the second en route to an exciting 4-2 victory over Northeastern Saturday in Syracuse. Sophomore Chelsea Armstrong spurred the comeback with goals on either side of halftime and an assist on Zoe Almquist's game-winning score.

Junior midfielder Kaylee Pohlmeyer iced the win for the Wildcats with a goal in the 66th minute, her first of the season and the ninth of her career.

For Armstrong, her two goals marked the 23rd and 24th tallies in 22 career games at Northwestern.

"When you get down by two goals, especially on the first weekend of the season, it can be easy for a team to abandon the game plan and start playing frantically," said Northwestern head coach Tracey Fuchs. "I'm proud that we didn't do that today. We made the most of our penalty corner chances in the second half and were in the right places at the right time. Overall, I'm happy with how we played today."

Following a feeling-out period in the first half, Northeastern capitalized after earning four consecutive penalty corners on the Wildcat end of the field. The NU defensive penalty corner unit held firm through the first barrage but eventually yielded when Northeastern's Allison Conti hit home a rebound following a save by Katie Lynch.

Four minutes later, Conti netted her second score of the day by getting behind the Wildcat defense and deflecting in a hard hit from outside the circle by Carolyn Malloy with 28:15 gone by in the first half.

Northwestern responded by earning its second penalty corner of the afternoon just two minutes later and saw a potential goal by Nikki Parsley disallowed. But on the ensuing Northeastern clear, Armstrong collected a loose ball 25 yards from goal and made a beeline for the circle. Armstrong eluded one defender at the top of the arc before dribbling the goalkeeper and sliding the ball home to pull NU within one.

Scoring chances were harder to come by for Northwestern through the first 10 minutes of the second half, but the Wildcats kept at it and notched the critical fourth goal of the game. Armstrong received a penalty corner setup at the top of the arc and slammed her shot past a sprawled Northeastern goalie to even the match at two apiece.

Northwestern's penalty corner success continued later in the half, with Armstrong again unleashing another shot toward the right post from the top of the circle. This time, however, Almquist stuck her stick between the Huskie 'keeper and another defender to deflect the shot in for the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute. It was the fourth goal of Almquist's career.

After recording six shots in the first half, Northwestern doubled its output in the second and outshot Northeastern for the game, 18-15.

Lynch earned the win in the cage for NU, stopping nine Northeastern shots.

Continuing its three-game stint in Central New York to open the season, Northwestern will make a short trip to Colgate to take on the Raiders Monday. Start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.

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