Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Travel to Loyola and Penn State
10/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 18, 2006
NU Women's Soccer Game Notes (at Loyola and Penn State)
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- After a split last weekend that included a 1-0 win over No. 16 Indiana, the Wildcats will take on local foe Loyola and 10th-ranked Penn State in their second to last regular season weekend. Junior Lauren Johnston (Denver Colo./Denver East) picked up her fourth conference shutout against Indiana and junior Kelsey Hans (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) netted her sixth goal.
Last Week
Northwestern fell to Purdue, 2-1, and knocked off No. 16 Indiana, 1-0, this past weekend. The Wildcats took an early lead against Purdue when freshman Alicia Herczeg (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) scored at the 10:42 mark. Purdue netted the equalizer 30 seconds before the end of the first half and scored the game-winner in the 50th minute. Against Indiana, Hans netted the game-winning goal in the 27th minute and Johnston made six saves, including one on a penalty shot, as the Wildcats toppled the 16th-ranked Hoosiers, 1-0, in Bloomington. The win snapped Indiana's 13-match unbeaten streak and was Northwestern's first over a ranked opponent since 2004.
Scouting the Ramblers
Loyola stands at 10-5-2, 5-1-1 in the Horizon League and is No. 15 in the Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region rankings. With their 4-1 win over Youngstown State Sunday in their Horizon League finale, the Ramblers equaled their single-season record for wins with 10. Cynthia Morote-Ariza leads Loyola in goals (7) and points (20). Emily Peick starts between the pipes for the Rambers and has six shutouts.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Penn State (10-3-3, 6-1-1) recorded its fourth-straight shutout victory Sunday in a 1-0 triumph over Ohio State. Katie Schoepfer scored the game-winner in the seventh minute. The Nittany Lions enter the weekend in sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. Their defense, with freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has now posted 386:09 consecutive minutes of scoreless soccer. Aubrey Aden-Buie leads the top-scoring team in the Big Ten in goals (8) and points (18). Naeher has six shutouts.
Magic Number
The Wildcats sit in fifth place in the Big Ten with 13 points, seven ahead of ninth place Michigan State. The top-eight squads make the Big Ten Tournament and with two games for NU and three for MSU remaining, the 'Cats are one win or Spartan loss from clinching a spot in the tourney. Northwestern missed the tournament in 2005.
For a complete set of weekend notes click the PDF link above.
