ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Northwestern picked up a 2-0 win over Midland on Saturday, scoring twice in the first half and holding on for the shutout.
The Red Raiders wasted little time getting on the board, as Rasmus Morrison scored just 37 seconds into the match to give Northwestern an early 1-0 lead. The Raiders continued to pressure the Warriors throughout the opening minutes, earning three corner kicks and creating several chances.
Midland settled in as the half progressed, but Northwestern goalkeeper Edoardo Alessandrini came up with several key saves to keep the Warriors off the board. The Raiders then doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Gorka Ilundain finished a Juan Miranda assist, sending Northwestern into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.
The Warriors came out with pressure early in the second half, but the Raider defense continued to hold firm. Alessandrini made two more saves in the half, including a pair of stops late in the match, to preserve the shutout.
Midland's task became even more difficult when Hugo Fragueiro was shown a red card in the 58th minute. Northwestern continued to create opportunities through the remainder of the match but was unable to add to its lead.
Alessandrini finished with four saves as the Raiders secured their second-half shutout and a 2-0 victory.
UP NEXT: Northwestern will hit the road Wednesday, Sept. 23, traveling to Mitchell, South Dakota, to face Dakota Wesleyan at 7 p.m.
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