Sports
Northern Illinois Shuts Out Ohio, 2-0
By: Kellen Becoats
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Northern Illinois’ Jess Woolridge scored a brace within the last 20 minutes of the game to give the Huskies a 2-0 win over Ohio Sunday afternoon.
Northern Illinois (5-6-1, 3-0-1), the new Mid-American Conference West leaders, were elevated into first place after the Bobcats (5-7, 2-2) knocked the former leaders, Western Michigan, off the mark on Friday. But Ohio didn’t have as much success on Sunday, as Woolridge’s brace proved too much of an obstacle to overcome.
Ohio started the game off well, recording seven shots—one being on goal—by the end of the first half to the Huskies three and none. But that changed in the second half.
Northern Illinois threatened early and often in the second period, recording the same amount of shots in the first 15 minutes as they did in the entirety of the first half. But it often isn’t about the quantity of shots, but more about the quality of the strike.
And Woolridge only needed two shots to sink the Bobcats’ hope of two wins during the weekend.
Woolridge’s first goal came in the 78th minute, after she got clear in the box and tapped it past senior Nicole Amari for the lead.
And she wouldn’t have to wait long for another one, as Woolridge struck again in the 82nd minute, this time chipping it from the right edge of the box to cement the win for the Huskies and hand the Bobcats their second loss of conference play.
Ohio have looked strong in MAC play, especially considering they have played three teams that have led their respective divisions so far this year. But it doesn’t get any easier for the Bobcats as they prepare to take on Miami—who currently rank second in the MAC East—at the tail end of Homecoming weekend.
But before the game against its biggest rival, Ohio will have to beat another MAC powerhouse in Ball State (6-2-2, 2-1) when the Bobcats return to Chessa Field on Friday, Oct. 10. The Bobcats lost to the Cardinals 2-1 last season after tying the Redhawks 1-1 in Oxford.