Site: Miami Soccer Field (Oxford, Ohio)
Score: Northwestern 2, Miami (Ohio) 1
Records: NU (2-0-0), Miami (2-1-0)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Aug. 26 – at Dayton (Dayton, Ohio), Noon CT

OXFORD, Ohio – Northwestern used two second-half goals to erase an early deficit and come back for a 2-1 victory over Miami (Ohio) Friday at the Miami Soccer Field. Trailing 1-0 in the first half, sophomores Georgia Waddle (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) and Niki Sebo (Downers Grove, Ill./North) tallied second-half scores to give Northwestern its second win of the season and handing the Red Hawks their first loss on the year.

“It’s another great win on the road,” Northwestern head coach Michael Moynihan said. “I thought we showed great heart, coming back from a first-half deficit, and we played with more purpose and excitement in the second half. We had a couple of great contributions coming off the bench from Julie Sierks, Margo McGinty and Jennifer Korn and they had a big impact.”

The Wildcats are 2-0-0 heading into their third match of the season Sunday at Dayton while Miami falls to 2-1-0. NU’s two goals were the first goals allowed by Miami on the year as the Red Hawks shut out their first two opponents by a combined score of 8-0.

“It’s still early in the season and there’s a number of various skills we need to improve, but it’s a great start,” Moynihan added. “I love the heart, the intensity and the belief that the team is starting to develop.”

The first half was even at 5-5 in shots but the home team had the 3-0 edge on corner kicks. Katy Dolesh put Miami up 1-0 with her goal at the 20:01 mark.

Northwestern regained control in the second half with Waddle’s equalizer at the 55:57 mark and Sebo’s game-winner with less than nine minutes to play.

A Wildcat corner kick set up NU’s first goal with junior Natalie Lagunas (Canyon Country, Calif./Golden Valley) taking the corner from the right side. A Miami defender blocked her initial send in back to Lagunas and her second attempt went into the box. Miami goalkeeper Allison Norenberg missed the punch out and Waddle was there, heading the ball into the net on the left side for her second goal of the season.

Sebo’s score was set up by a throw-in by Waddle deep in Miami territory on the right side. Waddle threw it towards the box and Norenberg came out of position, giving Sebo the opportunity to tap it in from the left side. Sophomore Sami Schrakamp (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) was credited with the assist, her first of the season.

The Wildcats maintained possession for much of the second half, with the 6-4 edge on shots and 5-0 advantage on corner kicks.

Sophomore Anna Cassell (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) started in net for Northwestern and was credited with two saves. She also stopped a number of dangerous Miami crosses, including one heading towards an open Red Hawk player on the far post with about a minute left.

Northwestern’s road trip to Ohio ends Sunday at Noon when the Wildcats take on Dayton. The Flyers are 3-0 on the season after defeating No. 19 Boston University 2-1 in overtime on Thursday night.

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