Haakenson's Golden Goal Propels Michigan Past Northwestern

Sunday, October 13

Evanston, Ill.

1:00 PM CT

Michigan

11-3-1, 6-1-1

Northwestern

5-7-2, 3-3-1

Michigan

Northwestern

Meredith Haakenson

Haakenson's Golden Goal Propels Michigan Past Northwestern

10/13/2019 5:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Boxscore

By: Megan McIntosh

» Michigan notched its sixth win in Big Ten play.
» Meredith Haakenson scored her fourth game-winner of the season.
» Nicki Hernandez notched her third goal.
» Michigan outshot Northwestern, 16-7.

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Martin Stadium)
Score: Michigan 2, Northwestern 1 (OT)
Records: U-M (11-3-1, 6-1-1 B1G), Northwestern (5-7-2, 3-3-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 19 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), 5 p.m.

EVANSTON, Ill. -- A perfect touch from Meredith Haakenson in the 98th minute led the University of Michigan women's soccer team to a 2-1 overtime victory over Northwestern Sunday afternoon (Oct. 13) at Martin Stadium. The win is the Wolverines' 11th of the season overall and is the sixth in the Big Ten.

Both teams scored in the final minute of regulation to send the game into overtime, Michigan's fourth OT game of the season. In the eighth minute of extra time the Wolverines (11-3-1, 6-1-1 Big Ten) iced the game when Hannah Blake fed a ball up the field for Haakenson, who dribbled down the right side of the box and made one move before she fired the ball into the right corner of the net for her fourth game-winner of the season.

Junior Nicki Hernandez netted the first goal of the game off a corner kick service from Raleigh Loughman, and Hillary Beall made three saves. Michigan outshot Northwestern, 16-7, with nine shots on net in the victory. In a defensive match, Michigan held Northwestern to just one corner kick and only allowed it to put four shots on frame.

Northwestern saw its first scoring chance in the first five minutes of the match when it struck from just outside the 18 and Beall made a diving save to keep the contest scoreless. The Wolverines took some long shots early, but their best opportunity came late in the half when Danielle Wolfe played a through-ball to Sarah Stratigakis, who made a quick play on her defender toward the goal.

The Wildcat defender was able to get back into position just in time to block Stratigakis' shot from 10 yards out and the first half ended scoreless. The Maize and Blue played a strong defensive half as they kept Northwestern without a corner and gave up just three shots, only one that was on goal.

The second half was similar to the first as the defensive battle continued. Alia Martin made two crucial stops inside the 18-yard box and Beall made a second diving save.

With one minute remaining in regulation Michigan earned its eighth corner kick of the match. Loughman lofted a pass onto the head of Hernandez, who buried the ball in the back-left corner of the net to put the Wolverines up, 1-0, with less than a minute to play.

The Wildcats answered as a handball in the box proved detrimental to Michigan as Northwestern knotted the game at 1-1 on the penalty kick with less than a minute to play in regulation.

Michigan had an opportunity early in the overtime period when Skylar Anderson fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box, but it went high and left.

Michigan will make a short jaunt to East Lansing for a Big Ten match against in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday (Oct. 19) at 5 p.m. The contest will be streamed live on BTN Plus.