Northwestern University Athletics
They're In! Wildcats Earn NCAA Tournament Bid
11/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 6, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Wildcats are back in the Big Dance.
After a one-year hiatus, the NCAA Monday announced that Northwestern is back in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats (11-7) will face the University of Cincinnati (11-5-2) Friday at 1 p.m. at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex in Evanston. The winner will move on to face No. 11 seed Saint Louis (13-4-2) Wednesday, Nov. 15 in St. Louis, Mo.
"I'm so happy for our guys and especially our seniors to be selected into the NCAA Tournament," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "I think we had a very strong season. It was one of those years where you don't realize how well you did until you sit back and really look at it. We played a tough schedule, got off to great start and lost a couple key guys down the stretch, which hurt us a little bit.
"But I'm so happy for our guys. It's well deserved. We face a very good team in Cincinnati. They are a great team with a great coach and we are looking forward to an exciting game on Friday."
This is Northwestern's second trip to the NCAA in three years after the 'Cats made their first ever appearance in the NCAA's in 2004. That year the Wildcats won a school record 15 games, won their first round game against Western Illinois at home before falling on the road to Creighton in round two.
This year Wildcats enjoyed one of their best seasons in school history -- winning 11 games and starting a program-best 7-1 en route to a No. 14 national ranking back in September -- also the highest ever. The Wildcats defeated four teams ranked in the top 40 of the latest RPI rankings released by the NCAA, which included Hofstra, UC Irvine and the school's first win over Ohio State in 13 years.
Ticket prices for Friday are $7 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.
