ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – After a dominant 3-0 win to open Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night, the University of Northwestern Women's Soccer team traveled to Crown College for its first conference road test of the 2024 season. In a game that didn't feature much in the statistical department for much of it, the finish was as eventful and thrilling as it gets. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they fell on the wrong side of the action, falling by a 2-1 score in the final seconds.
Crown drew first blood with a goal in the 37
th minute. That would be the only goal of the opening half, although Northwestern was able to get one more shot off before the horn. UNW was able to out-shoot the Polars in the second half, culminating in
Mya Chan (Brandon, S.D./Homeschool) converting a free kick in the 88
th minute from Hail Mary range. While most thought Chan's goal would be the final chapter of the match, Crown had other ideas. A free kick with 12 seconds left deflected off of
Samantha Hansen's (Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy) leaping hand and into the net, giving the Polars their first win over Northwestern since 2013.
Aside from Chan's impressive goal,
Madeline Hallberg (Princeton, Minn./Princeton) provided the most offensive output for Northwestern, tallying two shots, both on goal.
Megan Moeller (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Christian School) provided the other shot on goal for UNW and Hansen finished with two saves in net.
The Eagles will have to rebound quickly before they welcome reigning UMAC champion UW-Superior to Reynolds Field on Tuesday, where they defeated the Yellowjackets by a 3-1 score last season. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM.
