October 17, 2012
NU DOMINATES
Wildcats post 2-0 win over Loyola

CHICAGO – Joey Calistri and Chris Ritter each scored as Northwestern dominated Loyola in a 2-0 win at the Loyola Soccer Complex Wednesday night. The Wildcats nearly went the entire match without allowing a shot, holding a 16-2 advantage.

“I thought we played pretty well defensively tonight,” Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. “With the wind, they didn’t get a shot off in the first half and I thought we did a pretty good job. Because we were able to keep the ball so much today, we didn’t have to defend, or put on as much pressure because we could keep the ball and other games, it may not be as easy to keep the ball. Were we perfect? No, we gave a ball away here or there but for the most part, solid effort by our guys. Coming in here, this is a tough place to play and it’s always a close, tight game when we play here.”

Northwestern had an early opportunity to take the lead when Calistri was fouled just inside the 18-yard box, setting up a penalty kick for the Wildcats in the opening five minutes of the match. Ritter took the PK and sent his kick to the left of the net but Loyola keeper Peter McKeown was there to make the save and keep the ’Cats off the board.

NU’s chances continued as the first half went on. Calistri had another strike from the left side of the field that was pushed out by McKeown with a perfect chance for an Northwestern rebound but the ball rolled out, setting up a corner kick. The Wildcats had four corner kicks just eight minutes into the match.

Lepe Seetane had another shot similar to the goal he scored last Tuesday against No. 7 Notre Dame but his rocket from outside the 18-yard box skimmed just past the left post.

The Wildcats eventually found the back of the net in the 15th minute. Cole Missimo sent a ball to Ritter who found Calistri about eight yards in front of the net and the freshman sent a hard shot into the top right shelf past McKeown. The goal was Calistri’s team-leading sixth score of the year, Ritter’s fifth assist of the season and the first career point for Missimo.

With the rain picking up in the second half, the Wildcats continued to maintain possession but did not get as many opportunities at the net with five shots. Their lone shot on goal in the half came in the 61st minute with Ritter’s goal. Calistri was inside the 6-yard box and dished back out to Ritter who sent in a low shot from about 20 yards out into the bottom left corner for his fifth goal of the year. The assist was Calistri’s second of the year.


Northwestern kept the ball out of its half for a majority of the game and sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Miller did not have to make a save in the match as he posted his sixth shutout this season and second in the last two matches. Miller now has 15 career shutouts and needs one more to move into a tie for second place on NU’s all-time list.

Loyola’s McKeown made all five of his saves in the first half.

Northwestern returns home to Lakeside Field on Sunday at noon hosting Penn State in a key Big Ten matchup.