Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Ready for No. 3 Indiana
10/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 15, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After a dominating performance against Western Illinois Sunday, Northwestern hits the road to take on Big Ten rival and nationally ranked Indiana Sunday and Loyola-Chicago Wednesday.
While leading the Big Ten in points (90), goals (28) and assists (34), the Wildcats carry an 0-1-1 conference and 7-3-2 overall record into the weekend.
With his next victory, head coach Tim Lenahan will reach the 150 career win plateau. Lenahan is in his 14th season as a head coach.
Northwestern's Big Ten leading offense will be tested against an Indiana team that boasts the conference's best defense. IU (8-2-1, 3-0 Big Ten) leads the Big Ten in both goals allowed (nine) and goals per game (.82).
Northwestern's sophomore standout Gerardo Alvarez (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) remains atop the Big Ten in goals (10), scoring (25) and points per game (2.08). If Alvarez is to build on these numbers he will have to beat Jay Nolly, the anchor of IU's defense. Nolly leads the conference in goals against average (.76) and shutouts (three).
Loyola (1-3-11) is currently on a five-game losing streak, and will go up against Butler and Cleveland State before facing Northwestern Wednesday. Loyola's top goal scorer this season is Eric Spiess (four goals), with Mark Eckerle leading the team in assists (three).
CAT 'NIPS
* Before coming to NU, Lenahan served as both men's and women's head coach at his alma mater, Richard Stockton College. He also coached Lafayette University to back-to-back Patriot League titles.
* Freshman David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade) needs one assist to tie the NU single-season record of nine.
* Northwestern has three shutouts on the season, one shy of last year's total of four.
