EVANSTON, Ill. – Alicia Herczeg (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) converted the first penalty kick of her career as Northwestern women’s soccer defeated Michigan State, 1-0, at Lakeside Field Sunday.

The Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick after sophomore Emily Langston (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) was shoved from behind inside the penalty box. Herczeg took the opportunity and scored on a shot to the lower right side of the net in the 21st minute.

“Alicia has been ready to take a PK since we missed our last one (Aug. 21 vs. Milwaukee),” said Head Coach Stephanie Erickson. “She’s prepared and confident. I would have been shocked if she didn’t convert it.”

Herczeg’s tally was her team-leading fifth goal of the season and sparked Northwestern to a shutout of one of the Big Ten’s most potent offensive attacks. For the second game in a row the ’Cats controlled the run of play in the second half, outshooting the Spartans 10-6 in the final 45 minutes.

Herczeg and Sam Greene (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) each put two shots on net in the match. NU recorded 13 total shots in the game, the fourth consecutive outing the ’Cats have posted a double-digit shot total.

Goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) made three saves in the victory and earned her fifth clean sheet of the season, which ties the junior’s career high for season shutouts.

Northwestern now heads on its final road trip of the season for a 7 p.m. Thursday match at Iowa. The ’Cats are back at Lakeside Field on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. against Wisconsin.