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Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team smothers Northwood in Superior Dome, 1-0

Caroline Halonen

MARQUETTE — “Smothering” had to be the description of the Northern Michigan University defense as the Wildcats women’s soccer team didn’t allow a single shot by Northwood in a 1-0 victory at the Superior Dome on Saturday evening.

The Wildcats improved to 4-2-1 after posting their second straight shutout following a 0-0 double-overtime tie against GLIAC leader Ferris State two days earlier in the dome. NMU is third in the points-rating system the league uses, trailing only Ferris at 6-0-1 and Ashland at 5-1, though Grand Valley at 3-0-1 is right next to Northern.

Despite the airtight defense, the Wildcats still needed a goal to win, and they got that from junior Caroline Halonen, who now has exactly half — six of 12 — goals scored by NMU this season.

The scoring play occurred in the 60th minute when, after an Northern throw-in from 35 yards out, senior Isabela Cardoso faked out a

Timberwolves defender by making a hard right, according to an account from NMU Sports Information.

She moved into the box in front of the Northwood (2-3-1) goal, beating out two more defenders before she kicked the ball to Halonen. Halonen was centered a little more than three yards away from the goal and kicked the ball over NU goalkeeper Andrea Everett for the only one of nine shots on goal to elude her.

Isabela Cardoso

Of course, Northern goalie Shenae Kreps wasn’t called on to make any saves as NMU’s shots advantage was 22-0, with 12 coming in the first half.

Halonen went wild on the artificial pitch, racking up 11 shots, six on goal. Cardoso had three shots and one on target, while Evelyn Flor totaled two shots, both on goal, and Rachael Erste had two shots with one on target.

NMU also had the only three corner kicks of the match as the Wildcats had a possession rate of 62 percent for the match.

Northern finishes its regular season with a pair of home matches this weekend in the dome, hosting Purdue Northwest (1-5-1) at 1 p.m. Friday and Wisconsin-Parkside (0-5-2) at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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