By Erin Merkel, news correspondent
In the second Colonial Athletic Association, or CAA, game of the season, Northeastern carried momentum from their 2-1 win against Delaware into their Sunday afternoon game against University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). The Huskies scored the winning goal in overtime at Parsons Field, winning 1-0 and kicking off with a 2-0-0 conference record.
Northeastern has won the last five consecutive matches against the UNCW Seahawks and holds a 5-2-0 record against UNCW when playing on Parsons Field.
In their first game since Hurricane Florence, UNCW found their stride in the second half as they doubled down on shots. On the other side, despite winning in time of possession, the Huskies struggled to convert their shots. The game went down to the wire as the Huskies went into overtime for the second game in a row.
“I think we’ve realized that we’re not going to stop fighting,” said second-year forward Katarina Nilsson. “Throughout the entire game, we give 100% effort and that we can finish really late in the match is always really important.”
After 16 total shots in the game, more than twice UNCW’s seven, fifth year midfielder Valentina Soares Goche made a 40-yard dash away from the Huskies’ end. Carrying the ball, Goche passed to Katarina Nilsson who brought it into the 18-yard box and crossed it into left goal with less than three minutes left in overtime.
“It’s golden goal. You gotta take your chances,” Goche said. “I was running down the field, I saw Kat wide open. I’m like, ‘please’.’’
The Huskies possess nine different players who’ve scored a goal this year. Among them is Nilsson, who scored her second goal of the year.
“I saw my chance. I took it. It went in, thank God,” Nilsson said.
With a strong start against other conference teams, the Huskies hold level heads facing the rest of the CAA season. After another golden goal win, Goche said she’s glad to see their high level of play convert into goals and victories.
“Just keep making sure we can keep all the wins we can get, keeping our hopes high and our attitudes strong even if we’re not getting them. We have the resilience that’s really important to the rest of the season,” Goche said.
This victory gives the Huskies a 14-3-3 record against other CAA teams since Ashley Phillips became head coach in 2016. Nilsson said she hopes the Huskies can keep building on this going forward.
“Hopefully the momentum will continue to get us through,” Nilsson said. “It’s going to be tough but I’m looking forward to it.”
The Huskies (5-6-1 overall, 2-0-0 CAA) go up against Towson (6-2-0 overall, 0-1-0 CAA) in an away game Sept. 27.
