Women’s soccer shut out by CMU
Megan Donnally records 5 saves
Then-junior goalkeeper Megan Donnally swings her leg on a punt Sept. 29, 2019, during an eventual 1-0 loss to Kent State University at the Soccer and Track and Field Complex in DeKalb.
March 21, 2021
DeKALB — Women’s soccer suffered a blowout loss to the Central Michigan University Chippewas Sunday. This was the Huskies’ third straight loss, falling to 1-4 on the season.
Two first-half goals and another in the second, combined with CMU’s tough defense, kept the game all but out of reach for NIU. In the 3-0 loss, the Huskies only managed three shot attempts, one being on goal.
The Huskies were aggressive early in the first half, as first-year defender Abby Adams managed to put up a shot on goal in the first minute. CMU first-year goalkeeper Allison LaPoint was there to make the save in the center. LaPoint wouldn’t feel much pressure from NIU’s offense beyond that.
Junior goalkeeper Julia Lentz got the start in goal for the Huskies. She managed to make a save in the minute 17 off a shot from CMU senior midfielder Natalie Belsito, before first-year forward Jaelyn Dobrowolski swooped in to find back net, putting the Chippewas on the board. Belsito was credited with the assist.
In the 41st minute CMU senior midfielder Samantha Kaye-Toral managed to get the ball past Lentz to put the Chippewas up 2-0. Senior defender Maria Kaschalk was credited with the assist. CMU took their lead into halftime, totalling five shots, three on goal. NIU only managed a single shot on goal out of two shots.
The Huskies decided to make a goalkeeper change to start the second half, as senior goalkeeper Megan Donnally made the start in goal. In the 57th minute Donnally picked up her first save off a shot from Dobrowolski.
Drobowolski would attempt another shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but Donnally would again foil CMU’s attempt to make it a 3-0 game, picking up her second save on the day. In the 65th minute, Donnally picked up a third save off a shot from sophomore forward Lauren DeBeau.
NIU’s defense continued to struggle, allowing CMU to continue getting looks at goal. The 67th minute saw Donnally pick up a fourth save off a shot from senior midfielder Amanda Britain. Donnally’s perfect run of stops ended in the 77th minute, as CMU junior midfielder Chesney Wargo scored a goal, making it a 3-0 game.
NIU’s defense let up one more shot on goal, which Donnally was able to save for her fifth of the day. Its offense was unable to put together plays to put the Huskies on the scoreboard and back in the game. In the second half NIU’s offense attempted one shot to CMU’s nine.
With the loss, the Huskies fall to 1-4 on the season. The team returns to the field 4 p.m. Sunday for its match against the University of Toledo Rockets. The game’s location is to be determined, either being held at the NIU Track and Field & Soccer Complex in DeKalb or the Indoor Sports Center at Mercyhealth Sportscore Two in Rockford.
