Friday, September 6
Kalamazoo, Mich.
4:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

4-1-0, 0-0-0

0
at
1

Western Michigan

4-0-1, 0-0-0

1
2
F
Northwestern
0
0
0
Western Mich.
0
1
1
Collin McCamy
Photo by: Ashley Huss/Western Michigan Athletics

‘Cats Battle, Drop 1-0 Decision At No. 4 Western Michigan

9/6/2024 7:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Northwestern back home on Monday to host Marquette

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (September 6, 2024) – No. 9 Northwestern battled for all 90 minutes, ultimately falling by a 1-0 final to No. 4 Western Michigan (4-0-1) this evening at the WMU Soccer Complex in Kalamazoo, Mich.
 
Tonight's defeat sees the Wildcats' season-opening four-game win streak come to an end and brings Northwestern to 4-1 on the year.
 
How It Happened
Northwestern was tested early on, seeing off a Western Michigan corner kick in the game's opening minute.  Owen Smith came tantalizingly close to putting the hosts in front in the 14th minute, putting his close-range effort wide at the near post.
 
The 'Cats began to ask questions of the Broncos' as time wore on, generating a pair of corner kicks just past the quarter-hour mark.  Rafael Ponce de León came up with a vital stop in the 34th minute, corralling Alex Makovski's header from the edge of the six-yard box to send the two teams to halftime in a scoreless stalemate.
 
Western Michigan broke the deadlock just over two minutes into the second half when Carson Hodgson's left-footed attempt from 25 yards out found its way inside the far post, staking the hosts to a 1-0 lead.  Brandon Clagette looked to provide a response in the 55th minute, but saw his try from 15 yards out smothered by Broncos' netminder Colin Welsh.
 
Collin McCamy had his sights set on an equalizer in the 75th minute, forcing another stop out of Welsh with a left-footed free kick. 
 
With time ticking away, the 'Cats mounted one final push.  Nigel Prince forced Welsh to punch his headed try away in the closing minute off a McCamy corner kick.  Despite consistent late pressure, Northwestern was unable to find the back of the net as Western Michigan held on for a 1-0 victory.
 
Looking At The Numbers
- Western Michigan owned an 11-5 edge in shots, but both sides put three shots on target.
            - McCamy paced the 'Cats with three shots on the night.
- Northwestern finished with a narrow 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
- Ponce de León tallied a pair of saves in goal.
- Prince and Bryant Mayer joined Ponce de León in playing a full 90 minutes.
 
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Monday, September 9 to host Marquette in a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Team Stats

NWU
WMU
Goals
0
1
Shots
5
11
Shots on Goal
3
3
Saves
2
3
Corners
5
4
Fouls
13
9
Scoring Plays
Logo

Carson Hodgson (1)

Assisted By: Landon Fisher

GOAL by WMU Hodgson, Carson Assist by Fisher, Landon.

47:15

Game Leaders

Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0

Players Mentioned

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