No. 25 Northwestern Outlasts Men's Soccer in Overtime
Aug. 31, 2012
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Despite a goal from senior midfielder Matt Lodge, No. 25 Northwestern netted a goal in the 96th minute to lift NU to a 2-1 overtime win over the Kentucky men’s soccer team during the opening round of the Gamecock Classic, hosted by South Carolina, on a steamy Friday night at Eugene Stone Stadium
Kentucky (0-2) dominated play throughout the first period, taking a 1-0 lead into the half on the strength of the second goal of the season from Lodge.
“They really came out on fire,” UK head coach Johan Cedergren said postgame about the Wildcats start in the first half. “We talked a lot about in practice this week about being tight defensively but still being brave on the goal. They guys were up for it, they found some spaces to play in and as soon as they saw that they got more confidence and just kept playing.”
The Northwestern Wildcats then came out at half and used a goal in the 75th minute to even up the game and force extra time. NU then got the golden goal in the 96th minute from Kyle Schickel.
“It is hot and humid (in South Carolina) and we ran out of gas a little bit but it was a very good first half a lot of good movement and the guys really believed,” Cedergren said. “You have to give a lot of credit to Northwestern. They have a very good team. They hung in there and as the game wore on I think their fitness may have been a little sharper than ours. But it was a very, very good first half – a lot of good ball movement – and we played them out of the park for moments there.”
Northwestern (1-0-1) got two saves from goalkeeper Tyler Miller, with a save in each half. UK keeper Jack Van Arsdale made his first start of 2012 and saved six shots, including two acrobatic, one-handed saves to thwart second-half scoring chances for NU.
UK will return to action on Sunday, facing No. 15 St. Johns at 11 a.m. ET at Eugene Stone Stadium. The Red Storm faces South Carolina on Friday night.
The Wildcats got on the board in the 10th minute, as freshman Kristoffer Tollefsen lofted a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box. Lodge was well defended but managed to get control of the ball, firing a hard-hit shot at the far post for his second goal of the year. Lodge has now scored in both games of 2012 and Tollefsen has an assist in each of his first career games.
In the 75th minute, NU used a goal from Joey Calistri, on an assist from Nick Gendron. Gendron played a ball to Calistri, who fired a low shot at the far post from about six yards out, just beating the diving attempt from Van Arsdale.
Northwestern won the game with the golden goal in the 96th minute, as Grant Wilson fired a cross in from the far side, with Schickel getting a head on the ball and netting the game-winning tally.
GAME NOTES: Freshman defender Jacob Speed made his first career start … Junior Dylan Asher made his first start of the season in the midfield … Jack Van Arsdale made his first start of the year in goal … Matt Lodge now has 19 goals and 15 assists in his career, ranking sixth in UK career history with 53 points … Lodge’s 19 goals ranks tied with Lee Baker (1996-99) for seventh in UK career history … UK played its first overtime game of the year and its second consecutive year with an overtime game in the Gamecock Classic opener … UK finished with an 11-7 mark in corner kicks.
CEDERGREN POSTGAME
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