Syracuse Claims Last-Minute Win at Northwestern

Thursday, August 20

Evanston, IL

8 PM

Syracuse University

2-0-1, 0-0-0

Northwestern

0-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Syracuse	0	1	1
Northwestern	0	0	0

8/20/2026 9:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Sophomore forward Abby Incorvaia scored her first collegiate goal on a penalty kick with 58 seconds left to lead Syracuse (2-0-1) to a road victory at Northwestern (0-2-0) on Thursday night in Evanston, Ill.

HOW THE MATCH WAS DECIDED
The two teams played 89 minutes of scoreless soccer before a frantic final sixty seconds. A late transition by Syracuse, started by junior Kendall Mesh's throw-in to freshman Lauren Christy, was passed on to Julie Arbelaez on the right wing. Arbelaez crossed back to Christy, whose shot was deflected by a defender into the hands of Northwestern goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson. Following a subsequent whistle, a video review was conducted, which identified a handball foul in the box against Northwestern. That gave Incorvaia a penalty kick and her left-footed drive found the top corner of the Wildcat goal with 58 seconds remaining. The Orange held off the hosts for the rest of the contest.

A TIGHT FIRST HALF
The two squads played a scoreless first half. Northwestern outshot Syracuse, 5-3, while each club put one shot on goal. The Wildcats had the only corners, totaling three, in the first 45 minutes. The two keepers, Syracuse's Maya Naimoli and Northwestern's Nelson, were equal to the challenge.

DEFENSIVE PLAY DOMINATES SECOND HALF UNTIL . . .
The majority of the second 45 minutes played much like the first half. Northwestern's best chance to get on the board came at 65:03 when Megan Norkett had a point-blank opportunity that was stopped by Naimoli. Neither team put a shot on goal after that until the drama of the final minute.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Naimoli, a transfer from Youngstown State, picked up her second shutout of the season. She has yielded one goal in three matches.
Incorvaia's goal improved Syracuse's penalty-kick results to 2-for-2 this season.
Northwestern finished with a 9-7 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior Kendall Mesh made her first collegiate start for Syracuse. The native of Spencerport, N.Y., transferred from Old Dominion in the offseason.
Syracuse defenders senior Chloe Joseph, junior Jasmine Nixon and sophomore Bree Bridges, along with Naimoli, logged the full 90 minutes for the third straight match.
Mesh also turned in a complete-game effort.
Senior Leda Naihin and sophomore Liv Bozzo saw their first action of the campaign for the Orange.