Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Set to Host NCAA Tournament Debut
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 17, 2004
NCAA Tournament Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EVANSTON, Ill. -- When Northwestern takes the field Friday afternoon at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex, it will be much more than just another home match. The bare branches of the surrounding trees and crisp late-November breeze from the waters of Lake Michigan point to more than winter's impending approach -- they also signal Northwestern's arrival in its first-ever NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats are one of three teams making their initial appearances in the 48-team field -- NU's first-round opponent, Western Illinois, is another. The Leathernecks earned the Mid-Continent Conference's automatic berth with a 4-0 win over Oral Roberts in the Mid-Con Tournament championship match.
The winner of Friday's 1:30 p.m. first-round tilt will advance to the second round to face No. 14-seed Creighton at 7:30 p.m. CST Tuesday, Nov. 23 in Omaha, Neb.
The Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Tournament on the heels of its best regular-season and Big Ten Tournament in program history. NU entered the conference tourney with a 12-4-2 overall record, 3-2-1 in the Big Ten. The 12 wins over Division I opponents were a school record and three conference victories matched the 'Cats' total from the previous 13 years combined.
Northwestern then defeated NCAA participants Penn State and Michigan to advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship match for the first time.
Northwestern and Western Illinois have faced off once already this season, with NU earning a 3-0 decision over the Leathernecks on October 10. The match was an evenly played affair until the 64th minute when Wildcats sophomore John Carlstedt (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebuef Jesuit) scored his first career goal to give NU a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Gerardo Alvarez (Aurora, Ill./Marmion Academy) and junior Brad Napper (Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep) would add goals in the final 5:04 to give Northwestern its 3-0 advantage.
Through the conference tournament, Alvarez is the Big Ten leader in goals (12) and points (39). Freshman phenom David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade) has 13 assists--the fourth-best total in the country and four better than his nearest Big Ten competition.
Defensively, the Wildcats have given up only seven goals in their last 10 matches. The backline is anchored by Napper -- NU's second-leading scorer and a first-team All-Big Ten selection -- while sophomore Justin Pines (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) has become Northwestern's mainstay in the goal, carrying a 0.88 goals against average into Friday's first round match.
Western Illinois (11-9) is led by Jaman Nowaf, whose 15 goals rank him 12th in the nation. David Hanlon handles goalkeeping duties, where he owns a 1.26 goals against average. While the Leathernecks have had success at home (5-1), they have a sub-.500 record (4-6) on the road.
Northwestern joins five other Big Ten schools in the NCAA Tournament, giving the conference six bids--the most of any conference in the country. Two Big Ten schools, No. 2 Indiana and No. 10 Penn State, earned seeds and a first-round bye. Only Wisconsin failed to secure an NCAA bid.
GAME INFORMATION
* Gates will open at 12:30 p.m., one hour before kickoff. Ticket prices are $7 for adults; $3 for seniors, youth and students with a college ID; and free for ages five and under.
* Parking will be available in the lot to the northwest of the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex, closest to the lake.
