Oct. 24, 2010
Box Score
DEKALB, Ill.- Junior forward Kelsey Passaglia scored the game-winning goal in the 59th minute, as the Huskies took down Mid-American Conference East foe Bowling Green, 1-0, to improve their record to 9-7-1, 5-4-1 in conference play, and earn their seventh shutout of the season at the NIU Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon.
The Huskies opened scoring in the 59th minute when Passaglia scored from inside the box to give Northern Illinois a 1-0 lead. Freshman Samantha Hill began the play when she chipped the ball over a defender to find a streaking Passaglia in the box. Passaglia took control of the ball and buried it in the back left of the Falcon's net. The goal was Passaglia's fourth of the season.
In an even-matched opening half, the Huskies and Falcons battled back and forth, as each team fought for possession through the opening minutes. NIU and BGSU went shot for shot to open play, with the Huskies tallying five shots to the Falcons's four. Northern Illinois took control of the half at the 21 minute mark, as the Huskies fired seven shot attempts and held the Falcons' without any attempts through the remaining 24 minutes.
Throughout the contest, the Huskies continued to dominate every statistical category. NIU fired 16 shots to BGSU's seven, while edging out the opposition four to three in cornerkicks in the contest. The Huskies also recorded five shots on goal, while holding the Falcon's without any shots on goal until the 85th minute of play.
Eight Huskies tallied shot attempts for NIU, while four had multiple attempts, and four recorded shots on goal. Shelbi Johnson led the Huskies with five shots, two on goal, while Passaglia fired three shots, including the gamewinner. Mo Smunt and Kayra Thompson registered two shots a piece, while Smunt tallied one shot on goal.
Defensively, the Huskies did not falter in 90 minutes of play. The backline held their opponents to just seven shots, two on goal, throughout the entire contest. The Huskies were relentless in their defense, and every time the Falcons would get the ball NIU would prevent BGSU from creating any opportunity to score.
The shutout victory marks the final home game of the 2010 season for the Huskies, who went 7-1-1 on their home turf and earned a 4-0-1 record in conference play in DeKalb. With the shutout the Huskies are tied for fourth-most shutouts in a season in NIU history at seven, while freshman goalkeeper Amy Carr ranks third in the NIU's record books for most shutouts in a season.
"We had a great home weekend," said Northern Illinois head women's soccer coach Carrie Barker. "Two wins, a shutout and raising money for the Susan G. Komen foundation is a great way to finish our home schedule."
Northern Illinois women's soccer honored October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month this weekend by selling pink t-shirts and collecting donations in support of breast cancer awareness. All the proceeds from the Huskies' efforts will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® foundation.
Following a pair of home victories this weekend, the Huskies will take action on the road as NIU wraps its regular season schedule at Western Michigan on Thursday, Oct. 28.
