Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Host BYU Thursday at Lakeside Field
9/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2009
Women's Soccer Weekly Release (9/16) 
The Weekend
For the first time this season Northwestern will face nationally-ranked opponents in back-to-back matches this weekend. NU hosts RV/#18 BYU at Lakeside Field at 6 p.m. Thursday before traveling to take on #14 Notre Dame at 12 p.m. CT Sunday in South Bend, Ind.
Catching the 'Cats
Fans can follow each of this weekend's matches with GameTracker, available on NUSports.com. Live, in-game Twitter updates will be available for the BYU game by following @NU_SportsLIVE. Thursday's game will also be available to watch via video stream on NUSports.com. The stream is part of Wildcats All Access, which requires a monthly subscription.
Scouting the Cougars
Preseason favorites to win the Mountain West Conference title, BYU enters the weekend ranked 18th in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com and receiving votes in other national polls. The Cougars are led in scoring by freshman Carlee Payne (five goals, two assists), who scored in each of BYU's three games last week to earn MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Goalkeeper McKinzie Olson has allowed just five goals on the season and boasts a 0.64 goals-against average. BYU has played four overtime matches already this season, three of which have gone into double overtime. The Cougars are 2-1-1 in games that extend beyond regulation.
Scouting the Fighting Irish
After a national runner-up finish in 2008, #14 Notre Dame has seven starters back on a squad that was a unanimous pick to win the BIG EAST Conference National Division title. The Fighting Irish entered the weekend with a 3-3-0 record, with losses to North Carolina, Santa Clara and Stanford - all ranked in the top 12 in the latest NSCAA Poll. Hermann Trophy Watch List candidate Melissa Henderson leads Notre Dame in scoring with nine points (four goals, one assist). UND has used three different keepers so far this season, with senior Kelsey Lysander logging the most playing time.
Series Information
BYU leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 4-0-0, while the 'Cats and Irish will meet for the first time in program history. The Cougars will make their first appearance in Evanston since the 2001 season on Thursday; the teams last met in 2004 with BYU winning a 3-2, overtime match in Provo.
Last Time Out
Northwestern brings a three-match winning streak into play Thursday, thanks to a pair of victories at Penn and Yale last weekend. Goals by Alicia Herczeg and Emily Langston gave NU a 2-1 win Friday in rain-soaked Philadelphia, while freshman Kendall Thoreson made her first career tally a game-winner on Sunday, putting the 'Cats past Yale, 1-0.
Not for the Faint of Heart
Thursday marks the third regular season home match for Northwestern in 2009 and each of the previous two have extended into overtime. The 'Cats beat Loyola (Chicago) in their last home game when senior Kay Sampson scored at the 5:34 mark of the extra session.
