Sept. 30, 2012

Box Score

Site: DeMartin Soccer Complex (East Lansing, Mich.)
Score: No. 18 Northwestern 2, Michigan State 1 (2OT)
Records: NU (7-1-2, 2-0-0 B1G), Michigan State (3-6-1, 0-1-0 B1G)
Next NU Event: Wednesday, Oct. 3 – at Bradley – 6 p.m. – Peoria, Ill.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Northwestern staged a comeback Sunday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich., scoring two late goals in its 2-1 double-overtime victory against Michigan State. The Wildcats played with a man advantage after MSU’s Jay Chapman received red card in the 75th minute for an intentional handball in the box and that set up senior Chris Ritter’s penalty kick equalizer. Sophomore Eric Weberman tallied the golden goal early in the second overtime (102:15) to give the Wildcats their second Big Ten win of the season.

“It was a great win for our team; all Big Ten road wins are difficult ones,” Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. “Michigan State really took it to us in the first half and we were very fortunate to be only down one goal. We made some adjustments in the second half and were able to raise our energy a little bit and play the way you’re supposed to play in a Big Ten match. I thought that kind of made a difference in the game and our veteran guys really lifted their level of play. Then it comes down to making a couple of plays and we were able to do that. It was a good win against a good team. Michigan State played really well in the first half and really had us on our heels, but I think when we started the second half and obviously when they were down to 10 men, it was all us.”

Northwestern surrendered an early goal as MSU’s Fatai Alashe beat the NU defense with a shot from close range on the right side that went past sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Miller on the far post. NU was unable to generate many chances in the first half, finishing the frame with just two shots compared to four for Michigan State.

The Wildcats came out of halftime with a new energy and while they officially only  had five shots, they maintained possession for much of the frame, limiting MSU to just one shot for the entire 45 minutes.

Northwestern’s first goal was set up by a corner kick in the 75th minute. Sophomore Grant Wilson took the corner on the near right side and he found sophomore defender Nikko Boxall amongst a scrum at the far post. Boxall’s header was on its way into the net, but Chapman was behind keeper Bryce Dobbins and Chapman’s intentional handball stopped the goal, giving NU the penalty kick opportunity. Chapman also received a red card for the intentional handball in the box, leaving MSU with 10 players the remainder of the match.

Ritter converted the NU penalty kick as he sent his shot past Dobbins on the left side for his fourth goal of the season.

Tied at 1-1, sophomore forward Eric Weberman tried to end the match in regulation as he had two good looks in the closing minutes with a header that went just high over the crossbar and another chance that went wide right.

In the first overtime, NU took the 3-1 advantage on shots. Junior midfielder Lepe Seetane’s two shots went high and freshman forward Joey Calistri’s sent a header wide left.

Weberman, who is a Michigan native from Farmington Hills, then ended the match in the 103rd minute, scoring the golden goal. He took a pass from Wilson and sent in a shot to the bottom right corner of the net for his second goal of the season. Wilson, who entered Sunday’s match as the Big Ten leader in assists, tallied his sixth helper on the year.

Northwestern finished with the 11-6 advantage on shots, limiting MSU to just two looks after the first half. The Wildcats also had the 4-1 advantage on corner kicks, including two in the second half.

NU goalkeeper Tyler Miller made three saves while both Wildcat shots on goal went past MSU keeper Bryce Dobbins.

Sunday was the fifth overtime match of the season as the Wildcats are now 3-0-2 in extra time.

The Wildcats take a break from Big Ten action, playing their next two matches against nonconference opponents. NU has one game next week, facing Bradley on the road at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3.

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