The Marquette women’s soccer squad kept its unbeaten run alive through August, playing to a 0‑0 stalemate with Northern Illinois on Tuesday night.
From the outset the Golden Eagles dictated tempo, earning a flurry of corner kicks that tested the Huskies’ defense, yet it was NIU keeper Alexandra Devory who turned aside the early threats, including a 29th‑minute strike from senior forward Emily Fix.
The first half produced a solitary test for Hurd, who tipped over a shot from NIU sophomore forward Mya Newcombe, preserving the clean sheet heading into the break.
A Test of Resilience
After the interval Marquette doubled its shot volume, outshooting the opposition 19‑10 overall, but Devory’s five saves in the second half kept the deadlock intact, with a 76th‑minute free‑kick from the Huskies curling wide thanks to Hurd’s positioning.
Coach Chris Allen praised the emergence of Hurd, a true freshman thrust into the starting lineup, noting that her leadership and composure were "pretty unheard of" for a player of her age.
The Golden Eagles now turn their focus to a September 10 showdown in Waco, Texas, where they will meet Baylor, a program just outside the top 25 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
The draw underscores a growing confidence within the squad, especially among the defensive unit that has now logged three consecutive shutouts.