Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Kick Off Big Ten Play
9/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's soccer team has collected three shutouts in its last three matches, and done so in overwhelming fashion -- the `Cats outshot their opponents in those three matches 54-10, and NU goalkeeper Whitney Jones has not even been called upon to make a save in a game situation in nearly two weeks now.
That figures to change this weekend, when Northwestern (4-2-0) storms the Great Lakes State to open Big Ten play against No. 25 Michigan (3-2-1) and Michigan State (6-1-0). The Wildcats meet the Wolverines Friday in Ann Arbor at 2:30 p.m. (1:30 Central), and on Sunday the `Cats tangle with the Spartans in East Lansing beginning at noon (11 a.m. Central).
In addition to being conference matches, these are also important regional matchups for unranked Northwestern -- Michigan is tied for fourth in the Great Lakes region, while Michigan State is sixth.
While the focus lately has been on Northwestern's defense, the offense has also gotten in gear in 2004. Led by precocious freshman Kelsey Hans, the `Cats have scored 14 goals in six matches -- exactly two-thirds of the 21 they scored all of last season. However, goals figure to be tougher to come by in conference play.
Northwestern's first opponent this weekend, Michigan cracked the national poll after a 3-0 win over Boston University last weekend. After a pair of losses to Top-10 programs to start the season, the Wolverines are 3-0-1 in their last four.
By contrast, Michigan State enters the weekend off a loss -- its first of the season after six straight wins to start the campaign. The Spartans lost three All-Big Ten players from a year ago, but return Abby Shepherd in the midfield and have proven themselves to be dangerous in the nonconference season.
Some notes on the `Cats...
* NU trails the all-time series with Michigan, 3-8-1. However, last year the Wildcats earned a 1-0 victory over the Wolverines in Evanston.
* NU is 1-2-1 vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor, with the lone win coming during the 1995 season.
* NU also trails in the all-time series with Michigan State, 3-6-2. Last year, the Spartans shut the Wildcats out 3-0 in Evanston.
* NU is 0-3-1 all-time in East Lansing, with the tie coming during the 1995 season.
* At 4-2-0, NU is off to its best start since the 1998 team started 9-0-1.
* NU has collected three straight shutouts heading into the weekend, the first time that has happened since the Wildcats shut out four opponents in a row near the end of the 2001 campaign.
* The school record for consecutive shutouts is six, set in 1997.
* NU has outshot its last three opponents (Southern Utah, Samford, SE Missouri State) by a combined 54-10.
* NU has scored 14 goals and allowed six so far this season; last year, the `Cats scored 21 for the entire season and gave up 31.
* Through six matches, freshman Kelsey Hans already has five goals and an assist this season for 11 points. NU's leading scorer last year was Aileen Guiney (now a Michigan assistant, coincidentally); she finished the season with four goals and four assists for 12 points.
* The leading returning scorer from a year ago had eight points (Katie Wright -- 3 goals, 2 assists).
* The last player to score five goals as a freshman was Katie Hertz '02, who had seven as a frosh in 1998; the record for goals in a season by a freshman is eight, set by Christie Molitor in 1996.
* Carolyn Hack's OT match-winner last Sunday was her first goal of the season and the fifth of her career; two of those five goals have ended matches.
* NU is now 1-2 this season in overtime matches, and 11-17-14 all-time.
