Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Draw Familiar Foe in NCAA Tournament First Round
11/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 17, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern's men's soccer team doesn't need look far for information on its first round opponent in the NCAA tournament. It only needs to look about five miles south down Sheridan Road. The Wildcats will host Loyola University Chicago in a first-round match at 7 p.m. Friday at Lakeside Field.
The winner of Friday's contest faces 12th-seeded Notre Dame in a second-round contest Tuesday, Nov. 25.
The Wildcats and the Ramblers have faced off 28 times with NU holding a 17-5-6 series advantage. The most recent meeting came a mere three weeks ago when Northwestern posted a 1-0 win on the Ramblers home field Oct. 28. Senior Brian Usinger's second-half goal was the difference.
The 'Cats own a 7-0-1 record against Loyola during head coach Tim Lenahan's tenure.
The Ramblers (12-6-3) earned the Horizon League's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after winning the conference tournament as the No. 5 seed.
Meanwhile, NU (13-4-2) earned an at-large berth. The Wildcats are making their fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the last five years. Northwestern finished the Big Ten regular season tied for third place and was eliminated from the Big Ten tournament by eventual champion Michigan State 1-0 in the semifinal round.
Tickets for Friday's game cost $7 for adults and $5 for students with a current valid ID. Cost for infants is $1.
