Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Poised For Big Ten Opener
9/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 22, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats (7-1) head into Friday's conference opener against in-state rival Illinois (4-2-2) riding a six-match winning streak. After facing the Illini at 7 p.m., NU will travel to Iowa City to tangle with the Hawkeyes (1-5-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"We are very excited to start Big Ten play this weekend," said head coach Jenny Haigh. "We are looking to continue the momentum into conference play. Illinois is such a strong opponent and in-state rival; we certainly have our work cut out for us, but I feel we are ready."
Northwestern is coming off a rare mid-week match -- a 2-0 shutout in against Mid-Continent foe Valparaiso. Goals by senior Tabitha Lowey (Peach Tree City, Ga./Mcintosh) and freshman Jenny Dunn (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Louisville) propelled the Wildcats to their seventh win in the last eight matches. Freshman Jeanette Lorme (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus) tallied both assists. Northwestern's defense held the Crusaders to just three shots on goal the entire match. Junior Whitney Jones (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) recorded her third shut out of the season.
"The win was definitely a confidence-builder for us," Haigh said after the Valpo match. "We have momentum on our side. Illinois will challenge us in very different ways, including team defense. I'd like to see us create more opportunities; to be ball-winners."
Illinois is coming off a 2-1 loss to Indiana State in its final nonconference match of the season. The loss also snapped the Illini's 11-game home-unbeaten streak.
Here are a few notes to keep in mind entering the first weekend of Big Ten competition:
• Before Tuesday's match against Valparaiso, Northwestern was second the Big Ten in goals per game (2.29) and assists per game (1.71) behind last year's conference champion Penn State.
• Sophomore Kelsey Hans is second in the conference in points (T-12), points per game (2.00), goals, (T-5) and goals per game (.83). She leads the team in goals (5) and is tied with fellow sophomore Kelly Sitkowski for the lead in assists (3).
• Northwestern is 1-6-2 all-time against the Illini. The Wildcats are ranked 25th in this week's Soccer Buzz weekly power ranking. Four Big Ten schools are ranked in the Soccer Buzz poll. Penn State (3rd), Wisconsin (19th), Michigan (22nd) and Northwestern (25th) are all ranked. Illinois is listed as receiving votes.
• The Wildcats hold an all-time 5-3-0 advantage against the Hawkeyes, and NU has won the last three contests.
• Northwestern, undefeated in the month of September, began the streak with a pair of victories over Big XII rivals Texas Tech and Baylor, winning 4-1 and 2-1, respectively. NU then won its own Wildcat Classic, besting Oakland 3-2 (OT) and Davidson 3-0 before defeating Central Michigan 2-1 and Valparaiso 2-0.
• The Wildcats have outscored their opponents, 16-5 during the six-match winning streak. Only Oakland has managed to muster more than one goal during that time.
• It is the Wildcats' best start since 1998 when NU was 7-0-1 through eight matches. That year, Northwestern went to the round of 16 and finished with a 16-5-1 mark.
• Northwestern is 3-7-1 all-time in conference openers.
• Northwestern's only loss was a neutral-site contest that came at the hands of undefeated No. 20 Marquette.
