Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Announces 2008 Women's Soccer Schedule
7/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
July 3, 2008
2008 Northwestern Women's Soccer Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Head coach Stephanie Erickson has announced a 2008 women's soccer schedule that features five evening games at picturesque Lakeside Field and eight games against NCAA tournament teams from last season. The Wildcats begin this year's campaign against Nebraska at 5 p.m. Friday, August 22, and close out the home slate on October 19.
"We have put together a very diverse and challenging schedule featuring eight NCAA tournament teams from a year ago," Erickson said. "We will face teams from the SEC, WCC, Big East and Big 12, along with perennial conference champions and NCAA tournament teams in Loyola (Chicago), Milwaukee, St. Louis and Illinois State."
"Our Big Ten schedule includes rigorous road contests along with home games against the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions, Purdue, and in-state rival Illinois. The Big Ten conference will be exciting and loaded with talent and we are excited to make a run in both the regular and post seasons."
The Wildcats get started early as they host Louisville, a 2007 NCAA tournament participant, in an exhibition at 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 13. The regular season gets underway with an evening contest at 5 p.m. Friday, August 22, against Nebraska.
After a one-week break, the 'Cats and Lakeside Field will host a four-team tournament on Saturday, August 30, and Monday, September 1. NU faces LSU at 7 p.m. Saturday and Illinois State at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Loyola (Chicago) is the fourth team in the tournament. LSU will be the first of eight Wildcat opponents who made the NCAA tournament in 2007.
Northwestern traveled to Florida last season to get some warm weather and this year the 'Cats will head West to Malibu, Calif., to take on San Diego and host Pepperdine. NU faces San Diego, an NCAA tournament team from a year ago, 3 p.m. Friday, September 5, before taking on the Waves at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 7.
After a 7 p.m. match at local foe Loyola (Chicago) on Friday, September 12, the Wildcats will host another local rival in DePaul at 1 p.m. Sunday, September 14. After they welcome in Saint Louis at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, September 21, the 'Cats will round out the non-conference slate at Milwaukee on Wednesday, September 24.
Northwestern's first five Big Ten contests will come against the five teams that represented the conference in the NCAA tournament last year. It will start with a home weekend against Purdue and Illinois. The 'Cats will host the Boilermakers -- the Big Ten Tournament champions last season -- under the lights at 7 p.m. Friday, September 26. NU will close the first weekend of Big Ten play at noon Sunday, September 28, against the Illini.
After traveling to Big Ten champion Penn State on October 3, and Ohio State on October 5, the 'Cats will come home for their last three games at Lakeside Field. NU will face Indiana on Sunday, October 12, in its only contest of the weekend, before closing out the home schedule against Michigan State and Michigan the following weekend. The 'Cats face the Spartans at 7 p.m. Friday, October 17, before a Senior Day contest at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 19, against Michigan.
NU's last three games will come on the road against Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Big Ten Tournament runs Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 6-9, at Iowa.
The first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament will be held at campus sites on November 14 and 16. The third and quarterfinal rounds will be held at campus sites as well before the Women's College Cup on December 5 and 7 at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
