Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Head West For Pepperdine Nike Challenge
9/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2008
San Diego-Pepperdine Notes In PDF Format 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern heads West to face the San Diego Toreros and the Pepperdine Waves of the West Coast Conference in the Pepperdine Nike Challenge hosted by Pepperdine at Tari Frahm Rokus Field in Malibu, Calif. NU faces San Diego -- an NCAA tournament team from a year ago -- at 3 p.m. CT Friday before taking on host Pepperdine at 3 p.m. CT Sunday.
Northwestern is coming off a 1-1 record in its own Lakeside Invitational last weekend. The 'Cats fell to LSU before topping Illinois State, 1-0, on a header goal by sophomore Jennifer Baumann
Live Stats This Weekend
There will be live stats for both of Northwestern's games this weekend courtesy of Pepperdine. They can be accessed by Clicking Here
Last Time Out
Sophomore Jennifer Baumann's header goal in the 32nd minute gave NU a 1-0 win over the Illinois State Redbirds in the second day of the Lakeside Invitational Monday afternoon. Senior Jenny Dunn served up a corner kick for Baumann who put it home for the game's lone goal. Goalie Carolyn Edwards along with Baumann and Alicia Herczeg earned All-Tournament Team honors for the Lakeside Invitational.
Scouting San Diego
The Toreros, ranked No. 23 by SoccerBuzz, are coming off a split last weekend, dropping a 1-0 decision to UC Santa Barbara on Friday, before registering their first win of the season, a 1-0 double-overtime win over UC Irvine on Sunday. Senior forward Amy Epstein has USD's lone goal of the year and is the school's all-time leader in goals. Two goalies have been splitting time between the pipes with freshman Courtney Parsons picking up the Toreros' first win of the season in her first collegiate start. San Diego made the NCAA Tournament last season and head coach Ada Greenwood has led the Toreros to the postseason four times.
Scouting Pepperdine
Host Pepperdine sits at 0-2-1 entering the weekend tournament with loses to Cal State-Fullerton and UC-Santa Barbara. The Waves picked up a tie against Arizona State on Aug. 29. Ashley Copp leads the way with a goal and an assist on the young season and Emily Wynne and Amanda Rupp each have one goal on the year. Kayla Stone has started all three games and has made 14 saves. Under head coach Tim Ward, Pepperdine has made the NCAA Tournament in five of the last seven years. They have made five tournaments in their 15-year history and have advanced to the round of 16 twice.
Series Information
This is the first meeting for the Wildcats against both the Toreros and the Waves. NU will be facing only its second WCC opponent in the program's history. The 'Cats are 0-1-0 against the conference with the lone game coming against Saint Mary's (Calif.). The Big Ten and WCC will mix it up a few times this season as Iowa will face both Pepperdine and San Diego in this weekend's tournament and the Waves will travel to Wisconsin later this season.
Distributing the Wealth
Through three games this season, eight Wildcats have notched points on five total goals. Senior defender Laura Janowitsch and senior forward Jenny Dunn lead the way with 3 points (1g, 1a). Freshman Emily Langston, who has logged plenty of minutes in her first season in the midfield, scored a goal in NU's season opener against Nebraska and Amanda Hoffman and Jennifer Baumann have notched goals as well.
Off to a Great Start
Senior Jenny Dunn's game-winning goal against Nebraska was her third-career game-winning goal and the 14th goal of her career. After the graduation of Kelsey Hans and Shannon Schneeman, who sit at first and third on NU's all-time career goals list, respectively, Dunn is the 'Cats' active leader in goals. Dunn is two goals from cracking NU's top-10.
Second-Half Firepower
In Northwestern's season-opener against Nebraska, the Wildcats put up four second-half goals en route to a 4-3 victory over the Huskers. Senior Laura Janowitsch got the scoring started with a goal from just over midfield and senior Jenny Dunn netted the game-winner late in regulation.
First-Timers
Out of NU's four second-half goals against Nebraska, three were Wildcats' first-career goals. Senior defensive mainstay Laura Janowitsch and senior midfielder Amanda Hoffman both recorded their first-career goals in the win. Wildcat freshman Emily Langston notched her first goal in her first game. Fellow freshman Kelsey Bertamus notched an assist in her first game as a Wildcat.
Welcome Back
After missing all of 2007 due to injury, Leigh Jakes made her return to the playing field in the 'Cats' 2008 season-opener. Jakes, a 2006 Big Ten All-Freshman selection, registered an assist from the back line in her first action since the 2006 season.
A Dramatic First Win
Offense wasn't the entire story of the Wildcats' 4-3 over Nebraska last Friday. Sophomore goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards, making her first-career start between the pipes, picked up her first-career win. The sophomore made three saves.
Gaining Experience Early
Wildcat freshmen are seeing action all over the field in 2008. Emily Langston and Nicole Duller have started all three games for the Wildcats this season with Langston scoring a goal in her first collegiate game. Jill Dunn, Sarah NeSmith, Jackie Blades, Katie Doyle, Kelsey Bertamus and Sarah Sroka have all seen the pitch this season.
For the complete release for the weekend, click the .pdf link above
