Sept. 16, 2012

Box Score

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Lakeside Classic
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Lakeside Field)
Score: Northwestern (RV) 2, Milwaukee 0
Records: NU (5-0-2), Milwaukee (4-3-0)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Sept. 23 – vs. Michigan – 3 p.m. CT – Lakeside Field

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern used a pair of second-half goals to defeat Milwaukee, 2-0, for its second shutout of the weekend and for the 2012 Lakeside Classic title. Sophomore defender Nikko Boxall and senior forward Nick Gendron tallied the two scores for the Wildcats as they remain unbeaten on the season at 5-0-2.

“These Sunday games in Friday/Sunday weekends are always tough to find the energy that you need,” Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. “I thought in the first half we kind of waltzed through and UWM played very well. They’re a good team, they’re really well-coached, Kris (Keiderman) has come in and done a great job with them. For us to get a 2-0 result and grind one out was good because I thought we played much better in the second half. We’ll get a day off and get ready for Big Ten play with Michigan coming in next week.”

After posting a 2-0 record on the weekend (2-0 win vs. Iona Friday), Northwestern claimed the Lakeside Classic title. Milwaukee (1-1, head-to-head win over NIU) finished second, Northern Illinois (1-1) took third and Iona came in fourth (0-2).

The Wildcats had four members on the All-Tournament Team, including Lakeside Classic MVP, Nikko Boxall, who scored Sunday’s game-winner and played a key part in the NU defense that did not allow a goal all weekend. Sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Miller (two shutouts), sophomore midfielder/defender Grant Wilson (two assists) and freshman forward Joey Calistri (Friday’s game-winner) were also named to the All-Tournament Team. A complete All-Tournament Team list can be found below.

Northwestern possessed the ball for much of the first half in Sunday’s match against Milwaukee but was unable to get many quality looks at the net. Making his first career start, freshman Henry Herrill got the first look of the game for both teams in the 18th minute, firing off a shot that went wide left.

NU did not get another opportunity until the 42nd minute when Cole Missimo’s shot inside the 18-yard box was blocked. UWM had four shots in the first half, one that was saved by Miller. The Panthers’ most dangerous opportunity came off a free kick just ouside the 18-yard box that sailed over the crossbar.

The Wildcats came out aggressive in the second half as Calistri put a shot on goal that was saved by UWM keeper John Shakon within the first minute of the frame. Shortly after, the NU scoring opened up as Boxall found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Herrill had the first attempt, which was blocked out to Boxall who scored off a rebound shot just inside the six-yard box. It was the second career goal for Boxall, a defender, who tallied his first goal at last year's Lakeside Classic.

Herrill then had a hand in NU’s second goal, which came just over five minutes after the first. Herrill sent a pass over to Wilson who was on the far right side of the field. Wilson then found Gendron one-on-one with a UWM defender on the far post and he headed in his first goal of the season, just past Shakon’s left side, to give NU the 2-0 lead.

"I thought Henry Herrill, stepping in for Kyle Schickel, who was out with an injury today, in his first start with two assists was huge," Lenahan said. "All in all we found contributions from different guys and that’s what we really needed today."

The NU defense limited UWM to just three shots the rest of the way, including one that was blocked and another save by Miller, as the Wildcats finished the frame with the 7-4 advantage on chances.

NU also had the 3-1 clip on corner kicks as neither team took a corner in the first half. Calistri and Herrill led the Wildcats with two shots each as NU finished with the 9-8 edge over UWM.

Both keepers made three saves in net as Miller posted his third shutout of the season and 12th of his career.

Unbeaten Northwestern begins its Big Ten regular season title defense next Sunday when Michigan comes to town at 3 p.m. In 2011, NU defeated Michigan 1-0 in Ann Arbor to clinch the Big Ten championship during the regular-season finale. Fans are invited to celebrate the team’s championship as the Wildcats will unveil their championship banner at next Sunday’s Big Ten opener.

2012 Lakeside Classic All-Tournament Team
Lakeside Classic MVP - Nikko Boxall (Northwestern)
Joey Calistri - Northwestern
Tyler Miller - Northwestern
Grant Wilson - Northwestern
Declan Rodriguez - Milwaukee
Aaron Horvat - Milwaukee
James Ashcroft - Milwaukee
Charlie Oliver - Northern Illinois
Pat Sloan - Northern Illinois
Franklin Castellanos - Iona
Alvaro Torrecilla - Iona

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