Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Clash With 15th-Ranked Buckeyes Sunday at Lakeside Field
10/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 8, 2010
Northwestern (5-4-1, 0-1 Big Ten) vs. #15 Ohio State (6-2-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010
Lakeside Field (2,500)
Evanston, Ill. • 7 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network (same-day tape delay at 4 p.m.)
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following three straight nonconference contests, Northwestern returns to Big Ten play Sunday as it hosts 15th-ranked Ohio State at Lakeside Field. Kickoff is set for noon. The contest is being televised by Big Ten Network on a same-day tape-delay basis at 4 p.m.
Tickets are available for the contest and can be purchased at Lakeside Field prior to the match. Fans are invited to arrive early to receive a free Northwestern Soccer vuvuzela while supplies last. The game precedes a showdown between the NU and Ohio State women's teams at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Sophomores John Rogers and Kyle Schickel and freshman Layth Masri each notched their first collegiate goals in the second half as Northwestern posted an entertaining 3-2 win over local rival DePaul Wednesday evening at Lakeside Field. The teams recorded just one shot apiece in the first half, but the Blue Demons' resulted in a goal to give the visitors a lead at the break. Schickel got the equalizer less than two minutes into the second half before Rogers put the 'Cats in front at 59:18. DePaul tied the match in the 66th minute before Masri fired one in off the right post at 84:03 to give NU the lead for good.
Scouting Ohio State
The Buckeyes (6-2-2, 2-0-0 Big Ten) are coming off a 2-1 win over 11th-ranked Michigan State after tying top-ranked Akron 2-2. Konrad Warzycha leads Ohio State with four goals, while Austin McAnena has chipped in with three. In goal, Matt Lampson ranks first in the Big Ten with a 0.67 goals-against average, an .875 save percentage and five shutouts. John Bluem is in his 14th season as the head coach of the Buckeyes.
Series Information
Northwestern has won its last four regular-season meetings with Ohio State, though the Buckeyes still lead the all-time series 18-6-2. A year ago, Jack Hillgard notched the match's lone goal in a 1-0 victory by the Wildcats Oct. 4 in Columbus. Misha Rosenthal made seven saves in goal to earn the shutout.
Kupe's Contributions
Junior forward Oliver Kupe has established himself as one of the top offensive threats in the Big Ten. A year ago, Kupe tied for the conference lead with seven assists. Kupe contributed his first helper of the season Sept. 5 on Reed Losee's goal against Saint Mary's (Calif.). He also shown the ability to find the back of the net himself as he notched his second career two-goal game Sept. 10 in a 4-0 win over Cleveland State en route to being named the MVP of the NIU adidas/Magnuson Inn Invitational. Kupe's four goals so far this season lead the Wildcats.
Preseason Accolades
Senior forward Matt Eliason has been recognized by multiple organizations as he competes in his final season at Northwestern. The Lombard, Ill., native is a preseason second-team All-America selection of College Soccer News and is one of 39 individuals named to the watch list for the Hermann Trophy which honors the nation's top collegiate soccer player. He has also been named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award which recognizes senior student-athletes for their contributions both on and off the field. Northwestern has two other individuals who are returning award winners. Defender Chris Ritter and midfielder Kyle Schickel were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season, while Schickel was an honorable mention pick to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team.
Eliason's Stellar Career
Matt Eliason has earned his preseason recognition based on what he has accomplished over his first three seasons at Northwestern. A two-time All-Big Ten first team and the All-Great Lakes Region second team selection, he surpassed Jonathan Hall (1986-89) for first in school history with his 31st career goal against Oregon State Sept. 12. Eliason's 13 goals last season led the Big Ten. He also ranks third all-time at Northwestern with 77 career points, three behind career leaders Hall and Gerardo Alvarez (2003-06). Eliason has also gotten the job done in the classroom as he was named an ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar a year ago.
Head Coach Tim Lenahan
Tim Lenahan is in his 10th season at the helm at Northwestern as the architect of a program that has undergone a metamorphosis from an also-ran to a national power. He inherited a program that had won a total of four Big Ten matches in the 10 years prior to his arrival and turned it into one that has reached the NCAA tournament in five of the last six seasons. The team has advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal round two of the last four years. Lenahan has an 97-72-24 record at Northwestern and is 223-140-42 mark in 21 seasons overall as a head coach. A 1983 graduate of Richard Stockton College, Lenahan coached for eight seasons at his alma mater and for three more at Lafayette before coming to Evanston.
Kotler Steps In
NU's goalkeepers in 2010 have some big shoes to fill as they replace the graduated Misha Rosenthal, the school's all-time leader with 29 shutouts. After starting the first two matches on the bench, junior Drew Kotler has admirably taken over. His 0.70 goals-against average and .833 save percentage both rank second in the Big Ten to only Ohio State's Matt Lampson. Kotler has three shutouts this season and recorded a career-high 11 saves against Notre Dame Sept. 29.
Youth is Being Served
The 'Cats have started as many as five freshmen at the same time this year. Layth Masri, Lepe Seetane and Reed Losee have appeared in all 10 matches, while Scott Lakin has played in nine and Connor Holloway eight. Losee has one goal and is tied for the team lead with three assists. Masri has contributed a goal and two assists. Seetane and Lakin have chipped in with a goal and an assist, respectively.
The Drive for Five
Last year's senior class at Northwestern accomplished something no other class in school history had done--reach the NCAA tournament each year of their collegiate careers. The Wildcats are seeking their fifth straight NCAA appearance in 2010. All five of Northwestern's NCAA tournament appearances have come in the last six seasons (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). This year's group of seniors has 43 career victories to their credit, nine shy of the school history of 52 wins set by last year's squad.
Wildcats Picked Third in Big Ten Preseason Poll
Northwestern has been tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten this season in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. Defending champ Ohio State is the coaches' choice to remain atop the Big Ten, followed by Indiana. Penn State tied the Wildcats for third place, followed by Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively. The second-place finish by the Wildcats' a year ago was the best in program history. NU's 3-2-1 mark against conference foes matched the 2004 and 2007 teams for the program's best Big Ten record in a season.
Jones Joins Coaching Staff
Neil Jones has joined the Wildcats' coaching staff this season, replacing Andy Fleming who left to become the head coach at Xavier. A 2004 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Jones spent the last four years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, including helping the Gauchos to the 2006 national championship. A four-year starter at UCSB, Jones amassed 28 goals and 16 assists during his career. A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Jones has also spent time competing at the national level as a member of New Zealand's National Team. He earned his first two full international caps playing for New Zealand's World Cup squad and scored two goals in the Kiwi's win over Tahiti during the OFC Nation's Cup. Jones also played in the U-17 World Cup Finals with the national team.
Up Next
Northwestern continues its five-game homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 13 as it faces Northern Illinois at Lakeside Field. The match gets underway at 7 p.m.
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