Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women’s soccer team lost to the Mid-American Conference-leading Ball State Cardinals on Friday evening at the NIU Soccer Complex in DeKalb by a 4-0 scoreline.

The Huskies (2-12-0, 1-6-0 MAC) were shut out for just the third time this season as the Cardinals (11-2-2, 7-0-0 MAC) scored twice in the opening 10 minutes and added two more goals in the second half to remain undefeated in MAC play this season.

NIU women’s soccer head coach John Ross rued the team’s slow start on Friday as the Huskies fell behind to goals from Ball State’s Chelsy Swackhamer and Abigail Boswell in the fifth and ninth minutes of the match.

“We faced a very quality opponent tonight and couldn’t afford to get off to a bad start. Unfortunately, that’s what happened,” Ross said. “We need to work on having a good minute, then turn that into a good five minutes and 10 minutes – then build on that for the entire game. Now we have to pick ourselves up and get ready for another good team in Miami coming here on Sunday for our Senior Day.”

The Huskies recovered well from the Cardinals’ early onslaught and NIU and MAC leading scorer Lauren Gierman (Prospect Heights, Ill./John Hersey) forced Ball State goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel to make two good saves from free kicks towards the end of the first half.

After Lorina White scored a third goal for the Cardinals early in the second period, NIU senior forward Nicole Gobbo (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) hit a rasping 20-yard volley that Heintschel miraculously tipped onto the crossbar and over the net, denying the Huskies any chance of a comeback.

Swackhamer then added a fourth goal in the 61st minute for Ball State beyond the outstretched fingertips of NIU goalkeeper Amy Annala (Oswego, Ill./Oswego), who did make nine saves – including several quality stops – on Friday night to help the Huskies.

The NIU women’s soccer team returns to action on Sunday for its Senior Day as the Huskies host the Miami RedHawks at 1 p.m. Admission is FREE for all fans.

--NIU--