Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Head West to Face Big Ten Foe Iowa
10/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2009
Women's Soccer Weekly Release (10/21) 
The Week
After a quick one-game homestand, Northwestern heads back out on the road this week to face the Iowa Hawkeyes. The 7 p.m. match is the second Thursday night game on NU's 2009 schedule and the 'Cats' only contest of the week.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa blitzed through its non-conference schedule with a 8-2 record, but the Hawkeyes enter the weekend 0-5 in Big Ten Conference play. Iowa is led in scoring by junior Keli McLaughlin, who ranks sixth in the league with 17 points and second in goals scored (eight). The Hawkeyes have shown a strong ability to score, with 27 goals on the season, but only three in conference games. Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Moran has earned all of Iowa's decisions in goal and posts a 1.24 GAA with 62 saves on the year.
Series Information
Northwestern leads the all-time series, 8-3-1, including a 3-2, double overtime victory at the Iowa Soccer Complex last season. The 'Cats have won three straight matchups between the schools and haven't lost in the series since 2001.
Catching the 'Cats
Fans can follow Thursday's action through the free Game Tracker on NUSports.com.
Last Time Out
Northwestern earned its second Big Ten win of the season Sunday with a 1-0 victory over nationally-ranked Michigan State. Alicia Herczeg scored the game's only goal on a penalty kick in the 21st minute, earned after teammate Emily Langston was fouled in the box. It was the first penalty kick attempt of Herczeg's career and led to the senior's team-leading fifth goal of the season. Junior Sam Greene had an outstanding game on the offensive attack, registering three shots, and Carolyn Edwards made three saves to post her fifth shutout of the season.
Strong Between the Pipes
The shutout against Michigan State Sunday was the fifth of the season for NU junior goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards, who is quickly climbing up the Northwestern record books. The Lincolnshire, Ill., native has tied her own season-high for shutouts and now ranks fourth in school history for career clean sheets (10). Edwards' season goals-against average stands at 1.29 entering Thursday, a number that ranks among the best individual seasons in NU history.
Getting Their Chances
NU enters the weekend having registered double-digit shot totals in four consecutive games, its longest streak of the season. Northwestern took a season-high 17 shots at Michigan on Oct. 4, then followed it up with 12 and 10 at Penn State and Ohio State, respectively, and 13 in a home victory over Michigan State. The 'Cats have now taken at least 10 shots in nine of their 15 games this season.
