Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Visits No. 4 Indiana
10/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 10, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern will face one of the most storied teams in college soccer history on Sunday when it travels to No. 4 Indiana. The Wildcats, with a 5-6, 0-2 record, are looking to even their overall mark and get their first Big Ten win of the season.
The Hoosiers reached the College Cup final last season and are loaded again this year. IU has won its last seven matches and is a perfect 3-0 in the Big Ten. Senior All-Americans Ryan Mack and Pat Noonan lead the Hoosiers with 16 points apiece. Goalkeeper Jay Nolly is 3-0 in conference play, with a 0.64 goals-against average (GAA).
"Our guys understand the significance of this game," said NU head coach Tim Lenahan. "Indiana is the measuring stick of not only the Big Ten, but also nationally. Our goal again will be to close the gap some."
NU is led by senior captain J.D. Martin (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick), who has played all but 13 minutes in goal thus far. Martin has earned four shutouts, good for ninth on Northwestern's career shutout list, and he has a 1.20 GAA to go with 50 saves. He also brings big game experience to the table, having led his former Rutgers team to the third round of the 2001 NCAA tournament.
"J.D. is a great leader and he is willing to take responsibility," Lenahan said. "He has had a good first half of the season, but I believe his best soccer is still ahead of him. He's done the necessary work and he will show it."
Northwestern will have had a week's rest heading into Bloomington, Ind. after a tough home stand last weekend against No. 20 Penn State and Western Michigan. NU dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to PSU, but responded against WMU for a 1-0 win.
