Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Prepare for First Big Ten Challenge
9/18/2007 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 18, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill.-- Northwestern opens the Big Ten conference schedule at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with its second road game of the year at Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. The Big Ten Network will televise the contest, which will be the team's first ever-televised game.
"On Sunday we raised our own level of competitiveness in terms of being a presence on the field and being strong," coach Kelly McCollum said. "I know the team is definitely mentally ready to work through this week to prepare for a top-level team like we just saw. We're going to be much better prepared to play Michigan State."
NU (3-4) opens the conference slate after starting the year with six of its first seven games at home that included three victories at Lakeside Field.
Shooting stars
Northwestern has fired 101 shots on goal so far in the 2007 campaign. The shot total (14.5 per game) is the fourth most in the conference.
Return to sender
Goalkeeper Emily Kyle (San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University H.S.) has consistently been atop the conference leaders in saves and saves per game. The junior has the 'Cats ranked first in the Big Ten in saves per game with seven in seven games. Kyle's 11-save performance against Maryland is also the second most saves in a single game in the conference this year.
Can't stop Quinn
Alex Quinn (Watertown, Mass./Watertown) has had an offensive outburst in the first seven games of the year and is among the conference leaders in nearly every offensive category, as well. Quinn's 3.57 shots per game (fourth in the conference) have done major damage to the Wildcat opponents resulting in five goals (seventh), for a total of 14 points (sixth). Her passing has been equally as dangerous as she has four assists on the year (seventh). She leads the team in shots, goals, assists and points.
No Bull
Junior Alison Bullock (Boyds, Md./Stone Ridge) has also forced the action for the 'Cats when she joined Quinn to become one of just three players in the conference to net three goals in a game, which she accomplished against Ball State. Bullock now has four goals on the year, which is tied for 10th in the Big Ten.
Spartan slaughter
Overall against MSU, NU boasts a 32-15 record. In the last 11 years, the score has ended up 3-2 on five separate occasions, with four of those contests going to an overtime period. The Wildcats have won three of the 3-2 contests, including last year's game at Lakeside Field.
Twice as nice
Against the Spartans in 2006, junior Jill Putnam (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) scored two goals, including the overtime winner. Senior Katie Charles (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) put the other tally on the board for the 'Cats.
