Site: Lakeside Field (Evanston, Ill.)
Score: Northwestern (RV) – 1, Ohio State – 0
Records: NU (9-2-2, 3-0-0 B1G), Ohio State (5-8-1, 0-4-0)
Next NU Event: Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Loyola – 7 p.m. – Chicago, Ill.

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern used stifling defense and a long free kick to shut out Ohio State 1-0 Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Field. Eric Weberman capitalized on windy conditions to put in a curling free kick from about 40 yards out late in the first half, and the Wildcats kept enough pressure on the Buckeyes to prevent them from threatening in the second half.

With the win, the ’Cats remain undefeated in Big Ten play (3-0-0) and move to 9-2-2 on the year. NU is now unbeaten in its last nine regular-season Big Ten matches (7-0-2) and in its last 11 matches vs. the conference (8-0-3; includes 2011 Big Ten Tournament matches).

“I appreciate every Big Ten win and we’re just trying to grind our way through a very tough conference schedule and so far we’ve played well,” Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. “We played really well against Michigan, played really well for a half against Michigan State and today we grinded one out. I thought we were a little emotionally tired from the big win on Tuesday, you try to prevent it, but it’s the reality of life. Today, I thought we defended pretty well. (Ohio State) got through the one time, Tyler (Miller) made the save, but everything else was basically service into the wind and that’s how we scored our goal. I thought we did a pretty good job of keeping them in front of us and not really letting them get behind us. Webby (Weberman) was fantastic today. He earned the goal and he had a couple other chances that really changed the game for us.”

The home team controlled the tempo from the outset, mounting repeated attacks deep into the Ohio State half. Driving rain and wind made possession difficult to maintain early on, however the sun broke through the clouds as Northwestern notched the game’s only goal with just over 10 minutes left in the half.

Chris Ritter was taken down about 40 yards from goal in front of the Ohio State bench, and Weberman stood over the resulting free kick. He drove a curling left-footed effort dangerously into the box, and both teams grappled to get on the end of it. The ball fell through, bouncing at the 6-yard box and kicking up into the top left corner as Ohio State goalie Alex Wimmer looked on. The goal was Weberman’s third on the season, and gave NU the lead 1-0 going into the half.

Northwestern outshot the visitors 6-1 in the first, and Tyler Miller was only forced into making one save.

Ohio State came out strong in the second half, as Miller was needed to punch out a back heel deflection that would have put the Buckeyes on the scoreboard.

The ‘Cats responded with an offensive flurry 20 minutes into the half, as Weberman rang a right-footed screamer off the crossbar, and Lepe Seetane forced Wimmer into a diving save less than a minute later.

The Buckeyes had two more looks late in the second half. Zach Mason sent in a long line drive that was padded down by Miller and Joshua Breto had another shot about a minute later that was blocked.

OSU kept the pressure on in the closing seconds and had prime position with a throw-in deep in the NU half. With all players, including Wimmer, forward towards the goal, Miller stepped out to grab the throw-in and secure the 1-0 victory for the Wildcats.

Seetane led NU with three shots while Weberman had two. Combined, the two accounted for five of NU’s nine looks. The Buckeyes finished with eight shots, including seven in the second half when they were playing into the wind.

Wimmer finished with five saves while Miller stopped all three shots on the NU goal to post his fifth shutout of the season and 14th of his career.

Ohio State had all four of its corner kicks in the second half while NU had one in each frame.

After a two-match homestand, NU hits the road for its next game, but doesn’t have to travel far, facing Loyola (Chicago) Wednesday at 7 p.m. Next week features two matches as the Wildcats are back home Sunday, Oct. 21, hosting Penn State at noon for Senior Day.

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