Reigning UMAC player of the year, Northland’s Sarah Strobino came to Morris with an ability for play already well-known on the Cougars’ squad.
“They have Sarah, their big player,” captain Maddy Gerber said when asked about Northland the day before.
The Cougar defense rose to the challenge, keeping Strobino away from the ball most of the game, but when Lumberjills’ forward go on the ball, she made the most of her time scoring two goal in a 3-0 win over UMM.
“They have one quick girl and she beat us,” said captain Rachel Harstad after the game.
The loss marked the end of a difficult weekend for the Cougar women who, despite playing well in long stretches, have dropped three of their last four conference games.
Northland scored its first goal at the 18 minute mark when Mariah Cook headed in a corner kick from Amanda Seely.
The 1-0 lead was steady until the middle of the second half when Strobino took charge. In the 67th minute, Cook threaded a pass to Strobino on the run who outran the backline and scored.
Nine minutes later, Strobino found herself in the same position, again on a pass from Cook. But this time she got a little lucky. UMM goalkeeper Emily Jacob darted at the rushing Strobino who blasted a kick over her. The ball caromed off the crossbar, bounced off Jacob’s back and into the goal.
The late outburst of goals by Northland obscured a fairly even game in terms of possession and shots. The Cougar got off 23 compared to Northland’s 20.
But statistics like that were of no solace to Harstad: “I know we had [23] shots… but we have to take good quality shots, not just shots.”
Head coach Dan Magner was impressed by Northland’s play. “My hat’s off to them. They hustled and outplayed us today.”
Next week the Cougars travel to the Cities for games against Northwestern College and Crown. The following week they return home for a pair of games against Martin Luther and Bethany Lutheran.
Northland College 3