DeKALB – NIU women’s soccer (6-2-3, 0-1-2 MAC) fell to the Central Michigan University Chippewas (4-4-2, 2-0-1 MAC) by a score of 2-0.
With the loss, the Huskies haven’t scored a goal since Sept. 19 against Miami University.
“I thought we really started slow today,” said NIU women’s soccer head coach Michael O’Neill. “We spoke about asserting ourselves in the second half, which you know, we actually came out and did that. But, then in those transitional moments, you know, we got caught off guard a couple of times and they punished us.”
The game remained scoreless until the 58th minute when Chippewa senior midfielder Jocelin Zimmerer found the back of the net, profiting off an assist from junior forward Lauren Walker.
Central Michigan’s offense continued the pursuit, creating a 2-0 lead in the 61st minute. Sophomore defender Rachel Jackson scored the goal with a header.
Jackson logged the first shot of the game in the second minute, striking the ball into the hands of Huskie graduate student goalkeeper Ary Purifoy.
Purifoy finished the game with 3 saves on 8 shots faced. Chippewa redshirt senior goalkeeper Allison LaPoint finished with 2 saves on 12 shots faced.
“Ary’s very consistent,” O’Neill said. “She’ll be very upset that she conceded two, that’s just who she is. She’s always consistent. you don’t have to worry about Ary (Purifoy), she is who she is.”
The Huskies’ got their first shot off in the 39th minute. Huskie junior forward Kelsi McLaughlin attempted the shot, nearly missing and connecting with the right side of the crossbar.
NIU and Central Michigan combined for 4 shots in the first half – 2 shots each – causing the game to remain scoreless going into halftime.
The Huskies’ offense put their foot on the gas in the second half, attempting 10 shots – including a penalty kick attempt in the 88th minute. The Chippewas attempted 6 shots in the second half.
Despite the opportunities to score, NIU failed to execute.
O’Neill spoke on how the Huskies can get their first conference win ahead of NIU’s next game against the University at Buffalo.
“It’s gonna be a very tough challenge, because they’re an extremely talented team,” O’Neill said. “To go into a tough environment after a loss, it’ll be interesting to see the kind of response that we get from practice then to go into Buffalo. But if I know my team, they’ll be ready to go.”
UP NEXT
The Huskies will now hit the road, returning to action at noon CST Sunday in an away game against the Buffalo Bulls.
