Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Set For Weekend In Sunshine State
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 6, 2007
Northwestern Women's Soccer Notes (UNC Greensboro/Florida Atlantic)
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following a split on their first road trip of 2007, the Wildcats are back on the road this weekend to take on UNC Greensboro and Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla. The 'Cats face UNC Greensboro -- an NCAA Tournament participant in 2006 -- at 4 p.m. Friday before taking on tournament host Florida Atlantic at noon Sunday.
After this road trip, the 'Cats return to Evanston for their home opener against Loyola (Chicago) on September 12. The game against the Ramblers will be one of five-straight home matches for the Wildcats. After Loyola (Chicago), NU plays host to Penn, Colgate, St. Francis (Pa.) and Wright State before starting the Big Ten schedule on the road.
"We saw a lot of promise and potential in our first weekend of play," head coach Stephanie Erickson said. "We are excited at the chance to play two very good out-of-region teams in UNCG and FAU and expect to come out strong and inspired on Friday."
"I am really pleased with our defending and we expect our attack to evolve as the season does," Erickson said. "Our finishing has been a focus as well and we expect to do better with that part of the game."
'Cats on the Internet
Gametracker will be available for both NU matches this weekend.
Scouting the Spartans
UNC Greensboro is coming off 2-0 wins over 27th-ranked William & Mary and Central Michigan last weekend. Freshman forward Kristin Player was named the Southern Conference's Player of the Week for her performance in the two contests. Player scored the game-winning goal in both wins.
Scouting the Owls
FAU split its two games during the San Diego State Invitational in the season's opening weekend. Senior forward Susanna Lehtinen scored a goal just minutes into the opener, to become the program's all-time points leader.
Flair For the Dramatic
Sophomore forward Alicia Herczeg (Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) has developed a penchant for making her goals count. Out of Herczeg's four career goals, two have been of the "overtime game-winner" variety. Herczeg's overtime goal in the 94th minute gave NU a 1-0 win over Drake in the 2007 season opener. Her first career goal was a double overtime game-winner to give the Wildcats a 4-3 victory over Ohio State in 2006.
Coming Out Firing
Senior Kelsey Hans (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville) has not wasted any time taking her chances at the opposing net. Hans, who now has 223 shots for her career, has fired off 10 through the 'Cats' first two games. She leads the team in the category and has two shots on goal.
Sam I Am
Freshman Sam Greene (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) has seen plenty of the pitch in her first two games in the purple and white. The freshman didn't even need one full game to record her first point as she assisted on Herczeg's double overtime game-winner against Drake. Against Nebraska, she helped pace the Wildcats with two shots on goal.
Opening With a Defensive Effort
NU notched a shutout in its first contest of 2007, putting it well ahead of its pace from 2006. The Wildcats did not post a shutout until their fifth contest of the season, an 8-0 blanking of Morehead State. Against Drake, Lauren Johnston (Denver, Colo./Denver East) picked up the shutout in goal to give her five for her Wildcat career.
For complete information about the FAU Women's Soccer Tournament, visit FAU's Tourmanet Page.
For Northwestern's complete game notes, click the .pdf link above.
