Michigan
12-6-2, 6-3-2B1G
Northwestern
13-5-2, 7-3-1B1G
Wolverines Advance to B1G Semis with Victory at Northwestern
11/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
» Nicky Waldeck scored the game's only goal in the 49th minute on an assist from Corinne Harris.
» Michigan defeated Northwestern 1-0 for the second time this season, earning its ninth shutout of the season.
» U-M now advances to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals against Penn State on Friday (Nov. 6).
Site: Wilmette, Ill. (New Trier High School)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: Michigan 1, Northwestern 0
Records: U-M (12-6-2), NU (13-5-2)
Attendance: 491
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 6 -- at Penn State - Big Ten Tournament (State College, Pa.), 6 p.m.
WILMETTE, Ill. -- Junior Nicky Waldeck scored the game's only goal in the 49th minute to help the fifth-seeded University of Michigan women's soccer team defeat fourth-seeded Northwestern, 1-0, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Sunday (Nov. 1) at New Trier High School.
The Maize and Blue will now advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2012 and will play top-seeded Penn State on Friday (Nov. 6) at 6 p.m. in State College, Pennsylvania.
"Today was huge for this team -- our season was on the line, and I'm so proud of the girls for the way they battled," said head coach Greg Ryan. "Especially for our seniors, they have a chance to battle for a Big Ten title and get back to the NCAA Tournament. They knew what was on the line today, and they delivered."
Michigan earned its ninth shutout of the season and third in its last four games. Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Hinz made five saves to secure her sixth shutout of the season.
After 48 minutes of scoreless play and few chances for either team, Michigan broke the tie in the 49th minute. Senior Corinne Harris played the ball ahead to Waldeck inside the left side of the 18, and Waldeck beat Northwestern goalkeeper Lauren Clem with a low shot to the far post to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
"Corinne and I had been combining well together," said Waldeck. "We had a few chances in the first half, and at halftime we said if we got it again we had to put it away. Corinne has played amazing all year, and she played a great ball in to me, and I just finished it off."
"Nicky has been coming on and looking like her old self for about the last five games," added Ryan. "And when she puts one in the corner like that you kind of go 'ahh, there's Nicky!' Nicky, Reilly (Martin) and Ani (Sarkisian) all played huge for us up front today."
In the 61st minute, Waldeck nearly made it 2-0 when she ripped a hard low shot from 25 yards. Clem made a diving save to her left and pushed the ball back into play, but no Wolverines got to the rebound, before it was cleared away.
Northwestern began to pressure down the stretch and got a few dangerous chances in the box, but Hinz and the U-M defense maintained the clean sheet.
The first half featured a lot of play in the middle third of the field with few chances for either team. In the 20th minute, Northwestern crossed the ball from the left flank, and Jennifer Korn headed it just wide of the far post. Michigan's best chance of the first half came in the 22nd minute, when a Wolverine corner from senior Christina Murillo was headed just over the crossbar by junior Melissa Kreutz.
Overall, U-M outshot the Wildcats 12-9 and has now outshot 18 of its 20 opponents this season.
"Now we're going to go up against Penn State -- we just played there, and we didn't play well," said Ryan. "For us, it's about getting focused and getting ready for that game. We're excited to go back there and show how Michigan can play."
As the top seed in the tournament, Penn State will now host the Big Ten Tournament semifinals (Friday, Nov. 6) and finals (Sunday, Nov. 8) at Jeffrey Field. Michigan will take on Penn State at 6 p.m., while Rutgers and Ohio State will battle in the other semifinal match at 3:30 p.m. The championship match will take place at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Waldeck, Nicky (3)
Assisted By: Harris, Corinne
GOAL by MICH Waldeck, Nicky (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Harris, Corinne, goal number 3 for season.
48:41
