Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Heads East to Face Penn, Yale
9/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 10, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After picking up its first win of the season, Northwestern heads back on the road this weekend for a pair of matches against Ivy League opponents, Penn and Yale.
Catching the 'Cats
Fans can follow each of this weekend's matches with Game Tracker on NUSports.com.
Scouting the Quakers
Penn got a late start to its season but opened in impressive fashion last weekend, with wins over two previously unbeaten opponents in George Mason and La Salle. Senior Jessica Fuccello has five goals in the Quakers' first two matches, including a school-record four against La Salle last Sunday. Fuccello missed most of 2008 with an injury but scored 20 goals and 49 points in her first two seasons. The Quakers return eight starters from a team that went 8-6-3 in 2008. Junior Sarah Friedman set a school record with 15 assists last year, helping her earn first-team all-Ivy honors. Goalkeeper Sara Rose has a 0.81 goals-against avreage, the best in school history.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Yale takes a 2-0-0 record into a Thursday night match with Sacred Heart before hosting NU Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs have been extremely successful at home over the past two seasons, posting a 14-3-1 record at Reese Stadium. Yale returns eight starters from a 8-7-2 team in 2008 including all-Ivy defender Sophia Merrifield. Yale's back line allowed 21 goals last season while recording seven shutouts.
Series Information
Friday will mark the second-ever meeting between NU and Penn, following the schools' 1-1 tie at Lakeside Field in 2007. Kelsey Hans scored the 'Cats' lone goal in the draw. Northwestern and Yale will meet on the pitch for the first time ever on Sunday.
Last Time Out
Northwestern picked up its first win of the season last Friday, a 1-0 overtime victory over Loyola Chicago. Kay Sampson scored the game winner at the 5:39 mark of OT, her second goal of the season. The goal was set up when Emily Langston made a long run past the NU bench before crossing to Sam Greene. Greene tapped it out to Sampson who drilled a shot from just beyond the top of the box for the goal. Carolyn Edwards made one save in the win.
Flair for the Dramatic
Kay Sampson's goal against Loyola was the fourth of her career and the second game-winner; the senior's lone tally of the 2008 campaign gave the 'Cats a 2-1 win over Indiana. Sampson scored on a header at the 86:26 mark in that match, breaking a tie. Her first career goal wasn't techinically a game-winner, but it was dramatic as well - Sampson scored with one second remaining in regulation against Colgate in 2007, sending the game into overtime and earning NU a 1-1 draw.
Always There to Help
With a pair of assists on the season Sam Greene now has 14 helpers in her career, good for fifth place on the NU career leaderboard. The junior is just one away from tying her coach, Stephanie Erickson, who recorded 15 assists during her Northwestern playing career.
