Northwestern University Athletics
NU Gets Back to Big Ten Action in Columbus
10/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 7, 2011
Northwestern (4-4-3, 0-0-1 Big Ten) at Ohio State (7-4-1, 2-0-0 Big Ten)
Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Columbus, Ohio • 1 p.m.
Gametracker: NUSports.com
Webstream: Big Ten Digital Network on Wildcats All-Access
EVANSTON, Ill. – After three-straight nonconference matches, Northwestern returns to Big Ten action, visiting Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9.
Last Time Out
Northwestern traveled to Notre Dame, Ind., Wednesday to face the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish. Notre Dame got on the board first in the 38th minute but Oliver Kupe (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) evened the score in the 79th minute, scoring his team-leading fourth goal of the season. Lepe Seetane (Lesotho, Africa/Trinity) assisted on the goal. The game went into extra time and despite Notre Dame's 4-2 advantage in shots in the two extra periods, the game ended in a 1-1 tie for the second-straight season. NU goalkeeper Tyler Miller (Woodbury, N.J./Bishop Eustace) saved two shots. Both teams finished with 11 shots, three on goal.
Scouting Ohio State
The Buckeyes are currently atop the Big Ten standings with a 2-0-0 conference record and 7-4-1 overall mark. OSU is 3-1-0 in its last four with two overtime wins. Their two conference wins this season came against Michigan (3-2, OT) and Michigan State (2-1). The Buckeyes have one blemish on their home record and are 5-1-0 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium this year. Chris Hegngi leads the Buckeyes with 12 points and six goals (tied for first in the Big Ten) so far this season. Matt Lampson has played all 12 games in goal for OSU and has 52 saves and a 1.22 goals against average. OSU leads the Big Ten with 16.67 shots, 4.58 saves and 1.67 goals per game.
Last Time vs. Ohio State
In 2010, Reed Losee (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) and Oliver Kupe each scored as NU defeated then-No. 15 OSU 2-1 at Lakeside Field. Losee scored at the 37:20 mark and Kupe put the Wildcats up 2-0 at the 59:58 mark. Ohio State scored with 10:31 remaining but the Wildcats hung on for the win. Last year's game marked Northwestern's fifth straight regular season win against Ohio State.
All Tied Up
Northwestern's game against No. 12 Notre Dame on Wednesday was the Wildcats' third tie of the season and second against a ranked opponent. NU and No. 7 California finished in a 0-0 tie and Northwestern's Big Ten opener against Michigan State resulted in a 1-1 tie. The Wildcats have the most ties of any Big Ten team so far this season.
Counting on Kupe
Oliver Kupe scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season Wednesday against Notre Dame. Kupe was on fire at the beginning of the season, scoring one goal in three of the first four games, but went on a six-game scoring drought before finding the back of the net Wednesday. Kupe is tied for third in the Big Ten with four goals and tied for ninth with 0.73 points per game. Wednesday's game against the Fighting Irish was not the first time Kupe had a standout game at Notre Dame. Northwestern played on Notre Dame's home field to open the 2008 NCAA Tournament and Kupe, who was a freshman at the time, scored two goals in the Wildcats' 2-1 win. Kupe has 46 career points and 18 career goals. Three more points and one more goal will tie him for ninth on NU's all-time career points and goals list.
Up Next
Northwestern returns to Lakeside Field Wednesday, Oct. 12 to host in-state rival Northern Illinois. NU has six regular season games remaining and four of those will be played at Lakeside Field.
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