Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Closes Out Regular Season at Indiana Friday
11/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 7, 2008
NU Game Notes vs. Indiana (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -
No. 8 Northwestern finishes up its 2008 regular season Friday as it travels to No. 23 Indiana. The Wildcats are looking to bounce back after seeing their hopes of a Big Ten regular season title dashed by virtue of a 1-0 loss at Michigan State this past Sunday. Big Ten Network is televising the contest live beginning at 5:30 p.m. Central time with Kenn Tomasch and Chris Doran on the call.
Northwestern (12-2-2, 3-2-0 Big Ten) enters the match in third place in the Big Ten standings, one point behind Michigan (3-1-1) which hosts Penn State Friday. Michigan State has already clinched the conference regular season title.
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers (9-5-3, 2-3-0 Big Ten) have suffered the most losses in conference play in program history this season, dating back to the start of Big Ten soccer in 1991. However, by virtue of the tough schedule Indiana has played this season, it was ranked No. 1 in the NCAA RPI released last week. Sophomore Andy Adlard paces IU with five goals and 11 points. Senior Chay Cain has played the entire season in goal and has a 1.13 goals-against average and a .710 save percentage. Michael Freitag has a 69-20-18 mark in his five seasons as head coach of the Hoosiers.
Series Information
Indiana leads, 22-1-1. The Hoosiers won the first 20 meetings between the teams. Northwestern's lone win came Oct. 17, 2004 in Bloomington. The 1-0 victory snapped IU's 50-game conference regular season unbeaten streak and a 31-game home unbeaten streak. Last season, then-No. 13 Indiana defeated then-No. 6 Northwestern 1-0 in Evanston on a first-half goal by Daniel Kelly.
Looking Back on Michigan State
Michigan State claimed its first Big Ten regular season title under 32nd-year head coach Joe Baum on Sunday with its 1-0 win over the Wildcats in East Lansing, Mich. A rebound goal by Louis Stephens III at the 53:20 mark was the difference. Northwestern kept the pressure on to try to notch the tying goal, but never was quite able to convert. The closest call came with six and a half minutes left when the Wildcats drew a foul 25 yards out. However, Mark Blades' ensuing free kick clanged off the far post. It was the final good chance for NU which saw Michigan State finish with a 16-13 edge in shots. NU had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
Up Next...
The Wildcats head to Madison, Wis., next Thursday to compete in the 2008 Big Ten Men's Soccer Tournament. Opponent and start time are to be determined. The semifinal round is set for Friday while the championship match is scheduled for Sunday.
