Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Sets 2010 Men's Soccer Schedule
7/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
July 9, 2010
2010 Northwestern Men's Soccer Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. - Eight home matches and a contest against Notre Dame at Toyota Park highlight the 2010 Northwestern men's soccer schedule announced today (July 8). The Wildcats are coming off an 11-5-4 record and an appearance in the third round of the NCAA tournament during the 2009 campaign.
"As usual we try to play a demanding schedule and incorporate teams from the entire country," Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. "We have four strong West Coast programs on the schedule, as well as a home match against NCAA tournament team Missouri State.
"The Big Ten as always is among the most difficult conferences with every team having a legitimate chance to win a championship. Our local rivalries have become showcase matches for the Chicago area with DePaul, Loyola Chicago and Northern Illinois all having great success in the past few years."
The Wildcats are set to play three exhibition matches on the road. NU kicks things off at Villanova Aug. 21 before taking on St. John's Aug. 27 in Pomona, N.J. The team's final tune-up is slated for Aug. 29 when it faces Butler in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Northwestern opens the regular season on the West Coast, taking on San Francisco Sept. 3 before squaring off against 2009 NCAA qualifier St. Mary's (Calif.) two days later. The Wildcats return home to Illinois the following weekend as they make their annual pilgrimage to DeKalb for the NIU adidas/Magnuson Inn Invitational. NU opens the tournament by facing Cleveland State Sept. 10, followed by a showdown with Oregon State on the 12th.
The annual Lakeside Classic marks the home-opening weekend for the 'Cats Sept. 17 and 19. Gonzaga is the opening home foe of the season for the Wildcats, while Northwestern faces Holy Cross in its second match of the Classic.
Big Ten play gets underway one week later as NU travels to Michigan State. The Wildcats follow up their trip to East Lansing with a mid-week contest against Notre Dame in Bridgeview at Toyota Park, the home of the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.
"Our match with Notre Dame should be a great showcase for soccer in the city of Chicago," Lenahan said. "Much like the football team playing at Wrigley Field, this is a great chance to showcase our program at a professional venue."
The matchup marks the first regular-season meeting between the schools since the 2000 campaign, though the Wildcats have defeated the Fighting Irish in the second round of the NCAA tournament each of the last two years.
Northwestern then embarks on a five-game homestand, beginning with nonconference matches against Missouri State and DePaul Oct. 3 and 6, respectively. The 'Cats host their first conference match of the season Oct. 10 when defending Big Ten regular-season champion Ohio State ventures to Lakeside Field. NU has won its last four regular-season meetings with the Buckeyes.
Northern Illinois comes to Evanston for a mid-week showdown before the Wildcats wrap up their homestand Oct. 17 against Penn State.
Northwestern then plays three straight on the road as it makes the short trip to Loyola Chicago before heading to Madison to face Wisconsin. A Halloween showdown at Indiana looms before the Wildcats wrap up the regular season at home against Michigan Nov. 6.
Penn State will serve as the host for the 2010 Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship, slated for Nov. 11-14 in University Park, Pa.
