Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Ready to Commence 2005 Season
8/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 19, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's men's soccer team begins the 2005 season with an exhibition match at Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20.
The match is part of the sixth annual I.P.F.W. Soccer Showcase Aug. 18-21. The soccer showcase, which is considered by many to be the most comprehensive soccer event in the country, includes some of the nation's best collegiate, youth and high school teams. This year's showcase features both NCAA defending national champions: Notre Dame (women) and Indiana University (men). Rounding out the draw for the men are UCLA, Kentucky, I.P.F.W. and Northwestern.
The Wildcats are coming off a 2004 season that was the best campaign in the program's history. Among their accomplishments, the `Cats appeared in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, ended eventual-national champion Indiana University's 50-match Big Ten winning streak and finished 20th in the College Soccer News final poll.
The Wildcats enter this season ranked No. 17 in the College Soccer News preseason poll, and No. 24 according to the NSCAA/Adidas preseason poll. The `Cats return every starter and 24 letterwinners from last season's squad.
Northwestern is scheduled to have two more exhibition matches after this weekend. Bradley University comes to Evanston at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The `Cats then square off against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at home at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Northwestern's first regular season match is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2. NU will face Western Kentucky as part of the Lakeside Classic. Northwestern will then face St. Francis (Pa.) for the second half of the Classic at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 4.
The Wildcats won the 2004 Lakeside Classic by defeating the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 4-1, and DePaul, 2-1, in a thrilling double-overtime match.
Men's soccer home matches are held at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex.
