Northwestern University Athletics
Women's Soccer Fighting For Tournament Spot
10/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 18, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - As the Big Ten's regular season winds down, the Northwestern women's soccer team finds itself very much in the hunt for a spot in the conference's eight-team postseason tournament. This weekend's conference action will go a long way toward determining the Wildcats' fate.
Of the 11 women's soccer teams in the conference, three-Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota-will close out play this weekend. The other eight will have one match left in the conference after Sunday. Northwestern's weekend slate includes a 7 p.m. match at Ohio State Friday and a 1 p.m. match at Penn State Sunday.
With seven points, the Wildcats (4-7-1, 2-4-1 Big Ten) sit in 10th place in the Big Ten standings. However, the gap that needs to be closed is not very large-three teams are tied for fourth place with 10 points, and three more are tied for seventh with nine points. Since wins count for three points, NU can greatly improve its cause with a few W's in its last three matches.
Among the three teams left on NU's conference slate, Ohio State is among the trio of teams with nine points, and Wisconsin (Oct. 26) sits in last place with four points.
"All season we've known every game is important," said head coach Jenny Haigh. "I think we need to win two of our last three, and I think it's realistic that we can do it. We need to continue coming out and playing hard."
The Wildcats kick off this weekend's play in Columbus against the Buckeyes (6-7-0, 3-4-0 Big Ten), who gained six crucial points last weekend with wins over Illinois and Iowa. Junior forward Lindsay Eckles made a splashy return for OSU after missing five games with a concussion, scoring the game-winning goals in both matches to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
"Eckles is a great player, a special player who can make a difference on the field," said Haigh. "We will try and slow her down and limit her chances. But Ohio State has a lot of good players. I expect a great game."
Northwestern's other contest this weekend is also in conference play, at Penn State. The Nittany Lions have established themselves as the class of the Big Ten, sitting atop the standings with a 6-0-1 mark (10-2-1 overall) and averaging a conference-high 3.54 goals per game overall. They are ranked sixth in the latest national coaches' poll.
"I feel very prepared for Penn State, and I think the rest of our team should, too," said Haigh. "Three of our non-conference games this year came against teams that are nationally ranked, and we know we can play at that level. I also expect our team to rise to the occasion. Penn State is a big name and a great team, but I feel we'll acquit ourselves properly."
Northwestern enters the weekend with momentum on its side. The Wildcats had scored just five goals for the season entering last weekend, but scored four in a 93-minute span to gain 2-1 victories over Minnesota and UW-Milwaukee. Senior forward Katie Hertz (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) had two of them, giving her a team-high four goals for the season. She also has 19 for her career, which ties her with Dionne Latimore for third on NU's all-time list.
"It was very important for us to find the goal, especially for morale," said Haigh. "We have been playing well, but it was great to get results as a byproduct of our play. We have asked everyone to step up and figure out how they can help the offense, and it paid off last weekend."
At the other end, a youthful defense has earned its stripes. Led by sophomore Molly Greene (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) and freshman Lindsey Veris (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) in the middle, and backstopped by senior Susie McCreery (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South), the Wildcats have not shut anybody out but they have been pretty stingy. Overall, ten opponents this season have been held to a single goal by the 'Cats, including each of the last five teams NU has faced.
"Molly is a constant for us in the back, she has had several great games this year," said Haigh. "Lindsey has played out of her minds at times in an unnatural position for her. I also think we've gotten great play from our wingbacks, Katie Kovatch (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) and Kelli Wilson (Fayetteville, Ark./Fayetteville). They have been a solid group all year long."
