October 28, 2012
BIG TEN BATTLE
Badgers, Northwestern draw 0-0

MADISON, Wis. – Northwestern and Wisconsin battled to a 0-0 draw at the at the McClimon Soccer Complex on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats generated 10 shots while limiting the Badgers to just four looks in 110 minutes but neither team was able to find the back of the net.

“Coming in we were really focused on our performance,” Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. “We had a couple of difficult results coming into this game, but I thought we played well and I thought it was a very good game on both sides. In the second half, because of their size, they were able to give us some problems in terms of putting us under pressure a little bit. The first half and the overtime I thought we played well. I’m really happy and I’m proud of the guys. I thought we’ve battled back from two tough results to get a tough result ourselves on the road against a very good team. I’m really happy with our performance and next week we’ll play in Bloomington for some share of the Big Ten championship so we can’t really ask for more than to go into your last game with a chance to win a championship.”

With one Big Ten game to play, the Wildcats are still in position to win or claim a share of the regular-season title with a victory or tie Thursday night against Indiana in Bloomington.
Penn State tied Ohio State 4-4 on Sunday and finished its Big Ten season with 11 points at 3-1-2, while Indiana (3-2-0) remains at nine points after its 3-1 loss to Michigan State. The Wildcats (3-1-1) currently have 10 points and a win against the Hoosiers would give them sole possession of the title with 13 points. A tie against Indiana would give them a share of the Big Ten title, along with Penn State, as both teams would have 11 points and Indiana would finish with 10. NU would then also need Michigan State (3-2-0, nine points) to lose or tie with Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 3. A Spartan victory would put them at 12 points while a tie gives them 10.

Sunday’s match against the Badgers had few scoring opportunities for both squads. Northwestern fired off three looks in the first 45 minutes, including one by freshman forward Joey Calistri that was saved by UW keeper Chase Rau. Freshman midfielder Cole Missimo had another look that was blocked and sophomore forward Eric Weberman’s look in the final minute of the half was saved by Rau.

Northwestern had five more chances in the second half and its best scoring opportunity came off a corner kick in the 62nd minute. Sophomore midfielder/defender Grant Wilson took the corner from the right side and sent it over to Calistri on the far post. Rau saved Calistri’s first look, but junior midfielder Lepe Seetane had a second shot that hit the left side of the crossbar.

NU sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Miller only had to make one save in the match, which came off a shot by UW’s Nick Janus in the 63rd minute.

Calistri had the final look of the half for NU in the 76th minute but Rau made another save.

Wisconsin outshot Northwestern 2-0 in the first OT and then the opposite occurred in the second OT. NU’s two looks in the final 10 minutes came off a Wilson shot that sailed high over the crossbar and freshman midfielder Henry Herrill’s header from inside the 18-yard box was saved.

NU finished with five shots on goal, all of which were saved by Rau. The Wildcats finished with the slight 5-4 edge on corner kicks.

Looking to clinch a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the Wildcats will travel to Bloomington, Ind., Thursday to face the Hoosiers at 7 p.m. CT. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network.