Northwestern University Athletics
NU Looks to Stay Hot Against Drake, SIU Edwardsville
9/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 24, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Undefeated in its last four contests, the Northwestern men's soccer team returns to action this weekend with a pair of home matches at Lakeside Field. Ranked No. 17 in this week's College Soccer News poll, the Wildcats take on Drake at 5 p.m. Friday before facing SIU Edwardsville at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both matches are the first in a doubleheader with the NU women's team.
Gametracker is available for both matches and live streaming video of Sunday's match can be accessed via NUsports.com.
"Friday Night Tailgate" will be live at Lakeside Field Friday night. The Big Ten Network will begin taping at approximately 6:30 p.m., near the conclusion of the men's game. Fans are encouraged to wear purple to show their school spirit and stand around the "Friday Night Tailgate" set to watch and participate in the broadcast.
The show will air at 10 p.m. CT Friday on the Big Ten Network.
Scouting Drake
The Bulldogs (4-3-0) posted a 4-0 win over Oral Roberts last Friday before falling 3-0 to UMKC two days later. Garrett Webb (3 goals) and Matt Kuhn (2 goals, 2 assists) lead the offensive charge with six points apiece. Both Webb and Kevin Shrout were named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List. Michael Drozd has seen the majority of the action in goal and sports a 1.45 goals-against average but just a .526 save percentage. Drake was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference this season behind only Creighton.
Scouting SIU Edwardsville
The Cougars bring a 2-3-1 season record into their match at Dayton Friday night. In its most match, SIU Edwardsville played Ohio State to a scoreless draw. The offense has managed only five goals through the team's first six matches, but goalkeeper Scott Meyer has posted a 1.12 goals-against average and has a pair of shutouts to his credit. The Cougars are in their second season competing at the NCAA Division I level and will join the Missouri Valley Conference next year.
Series Information
Northwestern leads its all-time series with Drake, 6-2-1. In the most recent meeting, the Wildcats posted a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs Sept. 10, 2006 in DeKalb, Ill. SIU Edwardsville won its only previous matchup against NU, earning a 1-0 win in the 1986 season finale for the 'Cats.
Wildcats Win Second Consecutive Tournament
Northwestern (3-1-2) claimed its second straight tournament title as it captured its own Lakeside Classic last weekend. The Wildcats and South Carolina each finished with 1-0-1 records, but NU claimed the tiebreaker on total goals scored, 2-1. After the 'Cats and the Gamecocks played to a scoreless draw Friday night, Northwestern earned a 2-1 win Sunday over Lafayette. Oliver Kupe knotted the score at 1-1 with a second-half goal before Peter O'Neill tallied the game-winner with just 2:11 remaining in regulation. Kupe (MVP), O'Neill, Cody Stanley and Misha Rosenthal represented the Wildcats on the all-tournament team.
Eliason's Hot Start
Few players in the nation can boast the start to the season that Northwestern junior forward Matt Eliason has had. Named to the All-Big Ten first team and the All-Great Lakes Region second team after leading the team with 12 goals and 25 points in 2008, Eliason scored seven goals through NU's first four matches this season. The total is the second-highest in the nation behind only Andrew Bulls of UMBC (9). After scoring two goals apiece against against Oakland and Tulsa Sept. 11 and 13, he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Top Drawer Soccer's National Player of the Week. His 24 career goals are just six shy of the school's all-time record.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern opens its Big Ten season next Sunday as it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face Ohio State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Central time.
