Despite a strong effort, the Northeastern women’s soccer team (0-5-3) was outplayed by the Brown Bears (3-2-3) in a physical 6-1 loss Sept. 19. Brown dominated possession and played with composure throughout the game, keeping play centered in Northeastern’s defensive third. Northeastern had some key defensive moments and scattered offensive opportunities throughout the game, but ultimately went home with its fifth loss of the season.

As play progressed in Northeastern’s half, Brown had multiple shots and corners within the first 10 minutes, generating plenty of goal scoring opportunities. In the eighth minute, senior midfielder Karlie Schlosser scored the Bears’ first goal off a beautiful corner that sailed into the top right of the net unassisted. Northeastern, now down a goal, tried to gear up into the attack, and in the 12th minute, a cross into the box from sophomore midfielder Maddie Aughe to graduate student forward Sofie Fox looked promising, but was headed out by Brown’s defense. 

Three minutes later, graduate student defender Faith Rosenblatt sent a perfectly-placed ball to graduate student defender Addison Davis down the right wing, which produced a cross and some much needed action in Brown’s box, but Northeastern still could not find the net.

By the middle of the first half, Northeastern started to connect more, securing some skillful passing sequences in the midfield. However, Brown still held control of the match with majority possession. In the 20th minute, a header from sophomore midfielder Joy Okonye almost put Northeastern down another, but was stopped with a diving save from sophomore goalkeeper Eliza Teplow. Five minutes later, Brown got their revenge as the ball ricocheted around Northeastern’s box, nailed into the net by senior forward Kira Maguire. Now up 2-0, Brown had a streak of momentum — immediately scoring again a minute later. A through-ball from the midfield split Northeastern’s defensive line and reached the feet of freshman forward Ayla Sahin, who found the back of the net once again for the Bears, putting them up 3-0.

In the 32nd minute, Northeastern had another offensive opportunity off a free kick at the 30 yard line, which bounced around in Brown’s box and went out for a corner. The corner was well defended, and Northeastern’s game grew frantic as they tried to get one in before the end of the half. The clock ticked to zero, and the first half ended with a three goal deficit for the Huskies.

Entering the second half, Northeastern was eager to get itself back in the game. The Huskies made many substitutions throughout the second half trying to find a flow, but to no avail. After holding the Bears off for the first ten minutes of the half, Northeastern succumbed to freshman midfielder Ella Weil, who scored off an assist from Schlosser and set the tone for Brown to take over the game even further. Only a minute later, Northeastern committed a foul in their own box, resulting in a penalty for Brown. The kick was taken by freshman forward Nadja Meite, who placed the ball beyond the reach of freshman goalkeeper Federica Gavelli. Northeastern started to connect passes and tried to generate a counterattack, but in the 55th minute, they were shut down again by another goal from Weil.

Northeastern, now down 6-0, had 30 minutes left. By the 60th minute, Brown had had 3 corners in quick succession, and the Huskies had cleared them all out. As Brown got comfortable with their lead, the game got more interesting, and play started to move back and forth across the field. Northeastern gained momentum despite their trailing score, and made their way back into Brown’s defensive third. In the 77th minute, junior midfielder Lauren Dupont finally put one in for Northeastern, with a precise one-touch into the net off a cross from senior forward Avery LeVangie. 

Northeastern’s late-game goal shocked Brown out of their complacency. In the 80th minute, Brown almost tallied a seventh, but it was called offside — a result of a proactive shift up the field by the Huskies’ defensive line. Two minutes later, Brown had two more close calls, but missed just wide of the posts on both. The final minutes were fast-paced and chaotic as Brown tried to end on a high note, and Northeastern tried to hold on to momentum after their goal. Eventually, the final whistle blew, and the game ended in a 6-1 loss for the Huskies.