Northwestern University Athletics
Erickson Announces 2009 Women's Soccer Schedule
6/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
June 30, 2009
Complete 2009-10 Women's Soccer Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Coming off the fifth 10-win season in program history, Northwestern has announced its schedule for the 2009 season, which is highlighted by six home evening dates at Lakeside Field and eight home matches in total. Head coach Stephanie Erickson and her squad are looking to continue their rise to the top of the Big Ten after finishing the 2008 campaign in a tie for fifth place.
NU's schedule includes games against seven programs that competed in the 2008 NCAA Championships, most notably a trip to South Bend, Ind., on Sept. 20, to face national finalist Notre Dame.
“We're confident that the schedule we've put together for this season is one that will test us and help us bring our game to the next level,” Erickson said. “The Big Ten sent four teams to the NCAA Championships in 2008 and promises to be very strong again this season, and our non-conference schedule challenges us with games against league champions from the Big East, Big XII and Horizon League. Overall our team is excited to see what we can accomplish this year.”
Northwestern begins its season looking to avenge a 1-0 road loss at Milwaukee a season ago when it hosts the Panthers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. Milwaukee finished last season with an 18-3-2 record, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and a 6-2 victory in the Horizon League championship game against Loyola (Chicago), who Northwestern will host in its second home game of the year on Friday, Sept. 4.
Prior to that contest against the Ramblers, NU must endure a challenging three-game road stretch with games at DePaul, Missouri and Saint Louis.
After a pair of road matches against Ivy League foes Pennsylvania and Yale, Northwestern entertains Brigham Young on Sept. 17 before its date with the Fighting Irish, who did not lose a game in 2008 until a 2-1 decision in the national final against North Carolina, finishing 26-1-0.
Northwestern will then face two more teams from the Hoosier state, opening Big Ten play against Indiana and Purdue at home, where the 'Cats were 6-3-1 in 2008.
The month of October will test NU's fortitude on the road as the Wildcats play five of their six games that month away from Lakeside Field. Their sole home contest falls on Sunday, Oct. 18, against Michigan State.
Northwestern wraps up its regular-season schedule when it hosts Wisconsin and Illinois on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6, respectively. The Big Ten is no longer sponsoring a conference tournament at the end of the regular season.
The Wildcats return plenty of talent and experience from their 10-win team in 2008, including junior Sam Greene—who is currently sixth on the school's career assists list—and sophomore midfielder Emily Langston. Carolyn Edwards returns to her spot between the pipes after posting 75 saves and a 1.47 goals against average in her first year as a starter. In front of Edwards will be junior Leigh Jakes, who is set to again anchor a defensive unit that recorded five shutouts in 2008.
