Tracey Fuchs Announces Schedule for First Season at NU

7/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

July 2, 2009

2009 Northwestern Field Hockey Schedule

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern has released its schedule for the 2009 season, which represents the 30th season of varsity field hockey at NU and the first in the Tracey Fuchs era. Fans have 11 opportunities to watch Fuchs' squad at Lakeside Field this year beginning with the four-team Wildcat Classic Aug. 28-31.

Fuchs' first game as head coach of Northwestern comes at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, against Boston University, which will be followed at 2 p.m. by a contest between Ohio University and defending NCAA champion Maryland. The Wildcats face Ohio on Sunday before concluding the tournament against the Terrapins at noon on Monday.

"We're really glad to be able to host an event of this caliber to start off the season," Fuchs said. "BU, Ohio and Maryland are all excellent programs so all four teams will really have to be ready to play by the time opening weekend rolls around."

Northwestern's first road trip will see the 'Cats travel to the Nutmeg state for games against Yale and Sacred Heart in New Haven, Conn. NU is also slated for non-conference contests against Stanford, Central Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Missouri State and St. Joseph's before opening Big Ten competition against Michigan State on Friday, Sept. 25, in East Lansing, Mich.

Five of Northwestern's final seven regular-season games are at home, including tilts against non-conference foes Saint Louis and California as well as league matches to close the year against Iowa and Ohio State. The 'Cats posted a 5-3 mark at Lakeside Field in 2008.

This year's Big Ten Tournament will be held Nov. 5-8 at Michigan State.

Following 17 seasons as a member of the U.S. National Team and 12 seasons as the associate head coach at Michigan, Fuchs inherits an NU squad that lost four starters from a season ago, including three-year starter in goal Emily Kyle. But the Wildcats return two of its top three leading scorers in Elizabeth Dobbs and Courtney Plaster-Strange as well as its entire back line to start in front of either junior Katie Lynch or freshman Colleen Petronchak in the cage.

Entry to all home games at Lakeside Field is free.