Senior defender Aubrey Robertson’s first goal of the season proved to be the game-winner as NIU women’s soccer (3-4-3, 1-1-2) earned its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season against Central Michigan University (0-9-2, 0-3-2) Thursday, beating the Chippewas by a score of 1-0.
“Obviously very pleased with the result to get our first MAC win of the season,” said NIU women’s soccer head coach Michael O’Neill. “ I know they (Central Michigan) haven’t had a great season, but they always make it tough for you to win games here and tonight was no different.”
Despite Central Michigan being winless this season, O’Neill credited the Chippewas for making things difficult for the Huskies.
“I thought the girls battled hard, it wasn’t a very pretty game,” O’Neill said. “ It wasn’t a game for the purists in terms of techniques and possessions-based soccer, but that’s also MAC play as well. We were able to win a lot of the duels in central areas and stay competitive and on the front foot for large parts of the game.”
Set pieces have been a missed opportunity for the Huskies throughout the season, but one in the 37th minute of the match was all Robertson needed to put NIU ahead. After the kick was delivered, freshman defender Elle Wainscott got a touch on the ball, leaving it to Robertson to tap into the back of the net.
“We either get crosses or corners a lot of the time, and we haven’t really scored too many from corners as we did last season, “ O’Neill said. “Robertson, again a defender, a center back, was in the right place at the right time and had a little bit of quality to find the back of the net. A very scrappy goal, don’t get me wrong, but in MAC play and in the competition that we’re in, you take those scrappy wins and the scrappy goals and you run with it. So really, really pleased for Aubs (Robertson) to step up and get us the goal.”
The goal was the difference for the remaining 53 minutes of the match, as the Huskies were able to keep Central Michigan out of the net.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Pearson recorded her second consecutive shutout, after holding the University of Akron Zips scoreless in a 0-0 draw on Sept. 25. Pearson recorded 2 saves in her fourth career start.
“She’s really shown herself to be ready for the moment,” O’Neill said of Pearson, who stepped in at goalkeeper when graduate student Morgan Lucich went down with a season-ending injury. “She has the support of that back line, they’re a cohesive unit. I’m thrilled for Lauren and her being able to step up in a tough spot in our season when things weren’t going our way and help us gain momentum defensively and get those clean sheets under her belt.”
The Huskies outshot Central Michigan 12-6, while recording 3 shots on goal.
The duo of freshman midfielder Zoe McLauchlin and sophomore forward Alyssa Stephenson combined for 6 shots, three each, while junior forward Tyra King added 2 shots, one on goal, in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Huskies return home at 1 p.m. Sunday to face the University at Buffalo Bulls at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. The match will be streamed on NIU All-Access and live states will be updated on SIDEARM Sports.
