Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Kicks Off New Campaign with Lakeside Classic
8/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
| 2014 Sheraton Chicago-Northbrook Lakeside Classic | |
| Northwestern (0-0-0) vs. Quinnipiac (0-0-0) |
|
| Date | Friday, Aug. 29 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Watch Live |
BTN Plus |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Northwestern (0-0-0) vs. Hofstra (0-0-0) |
|
| Date | Sunday, Aug. 31 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Stats | Gametracker |
| Social Media | @NUMensSoccer  | Facebook  |
Following a match between NIU and Hofstra at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, the Wildcats will take the pitch at approximately 7 p.m. to face Quinnipiac in the first-ever meeting between the two sides. The action resumes on Sunday, Aug. 31 when NIU and Quinnipiac play at 11 a.m. before giving way to Northwestern and Hofstra at 1:30 p.m. The 'Cats lead the all-time series against the Pride, 1-0-0, after winning the only previous meeting on Aug. 25, 2006, 2-1. That victory paved the way for NU's first NCAA Tournament quarterfinal run under Lenahan.
Northwestern's roster boasts a strong mix of experienced and talented returning players, as well a handful of newcomers who are eager to contribute right away. Earlier this month, three Wildcats were named as Big Ten men's soccer preseason players to watch: Senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller, senior defender Nikko Boxall and junior forward Joey Calistri. Miller was a 2012 First Team All-Big Ten selection and was named to the MAC Hermann Award watch list for the second consecutive season earlier this month. Boxall, a native of New Zealand, has been a stalwart on the back line for the 'Cats over the course of his first three seasons. He is a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and a 2013 NSCAA Great Lakes All-Region Team selection. Calistri, who hails from nearby Deerfield, Ill., has scored 21 goals in two seasons at Northwestern. As a sophomore in 2013, Calistri led the Big Ten in scoring and points (28).
Fifth-year seniors Connor Holloway and Layth Masri will serve as team captains this season for the second consecutive year. Senior Eric Weberman will join the duo and serve as a captain for the first time in his collegiate career. The returners, which include a total of will be supported heavily by the 10th ranked recruiting class in the nation as assembled by Lenahan and his coaching staff.
As a team, the Wildcats were tabbed to finish sixth in the men's soccer preseason coaches' poll. After reaching the 2013 National Championship match, Big Ten newcomer Maryland claimed the top spot earlier this month.
Season tickets are now on sale by calling the Northwestern ticket office at 1-888-GO-PURPLE and NUSports.com. Men's soccer season ticket holders will once again receive a limited edition Northwestern Soccer scarf and an invitation to an exclusive event. In addition to the Sheraton Chicago-Northbrook Lakeside Classic, the Wildcats have an exciting home schedule that also includes visits from the 2014 NCAA runners-up, Maryland, on Oct. 5 and the 2013 Big Ten champions, Penn State, on Nov. 2.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter and Instagram, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook and sign up to receive promotional text alerts for the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
