NMU soccer falls in OT to Ashland
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland managed to score a goal just five minutes and eight seconds into overtime to hand the Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team a 2-1 loss Friday night at Ferguson Field.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 1-4-1 on the season with a 0-2 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play while Ashland improved to 4-2 overall with a 1-1 league mark.
“Tonight was heartbreaking,” said NMU head coach Matt Granstrand. “We played a quality Ashland team and I felt we controlled most of the match and were unlucky in our finishing. I am a blessed coach to have a group like this to work with. The long term success is not far off.”
Sophomore forward Carmen Villarruel struck first giving NMU a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute (16:05). Villaruel took a pass from fellow sophomore forward Paula Hafner and snuck the ball past Ashland’s outstretched goalkeeper Karly Beuck to the lower left side finishing the scoring chance.
NMU held the lead until the 74th minute (73:49) when Morgan Bittengle scored the first of two unassisted goals in the contest to tie the game at 1-1 and force the overtime.
Bittengle then scored the golden goal in the 96th minute to give the Eagles the win.
Hafner led all players with seven shots for the Wildcats including three on goal. NMU outshot Ashland 16-12 and had an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Glantz made two saves in net for NMU playing the full 95:08 of action. Karly Beuck took the win for Ashland making seven saves in the complete game outing.
The Wildcats will play their final non-conference outing of the season traveling to Madonna in a 12 p.m. matchup on Sunday.
(Information Courtesy of NMU Athletics)