#B1GCats Take on Rutgers in First Round of Big Ten Tournament

11/7/2015 5:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Kyle Kelley

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S SOCCER: GAME DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Sunday, November 8	Rutgers	12 p.m.	Piscataway, N.J.	BTN Plus	Live Stats
Social: Twitter (@NUMensSoccer and @NU_SportsLive) \| Instagram (@NUSoccer) \| Facebook

EVANSTON, Ill. — After tying for third in the Big Ten in the regular season and earning the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, Northwestern men's soccer will begin postseason play Sunday afternoon when it takes on No. 4-seed Rutgers at noon.

The Wildcats had a chance to earn a share of the Big Ten regular season title in the finale Wednesday at Wisconsin, but an Ohio State win over Michigan gave the Buckeyes the title and the 'Cats fell at Wisconsin, 2-1, to fall to the No. 5 seed. Chicago's Big Ten Team fell to the Scarlet Knights earlier this season, 4-2.

The match is set for a 12 p.m. start and can be watched on BTN Plus.

Four Bring Home Big Ten Honors
Seniors Joey Calistri and Cole Missimo were named second team All-Big Ten Friday, while Camden Buescher was named to the All-Freshman Team. Senior Henry Herrill was named the Wildcats' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.

This is the fifth time that Calistri has been handed down a postseason distinction from the Big Ten. After his freshman campaign, the Deefrield, Illinois, native was a unanimous selection for Freshman of the Year and was a first team All-Big Ten honoree. He proceeded to be named to the first team again in 2013 and then the second team in 2014. He has three goals and six assists on the season, including one game-winning goal over Ohio State (Sept. 11).

Friday's announcement marks the second consecutive year that Missimo has been on the All-Big Ten second team. In addition, he was on the 2012 Big Ten All-Freshman Team after playing in all 23 games during his first season in Evanston. The senior notched one goal and two assists this season.

Buescher was rewarded with a place on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. His lone goal on the season came in dramatic fashion at No. 13 Maryland in October. Late in the match, he tied the score, 1-1, and the 'Cats proceeded to upset their conference foe in overtime. The Toledo, Ohio, native also recorded two assists and appeared in every one of Northwestern's 17 games this season

Chasing History
Calistri remains three goals shy of Matt Eliason's program record of 33 career goals. Calistri scored his 30th career goal at DePaul on Oct. 7 but leads the Wildcats with five assists The Deerfield, Illinois, is second on the team with three goals and leads the team with 11 points.

Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers finished with Northwestern and Maryland for a three-way third-place tie in the regular season with 12 points. Sophomore Jason Wright was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and head coach Dan Donigan was voted the Big Ten Coach of the Year as a total of six Scarlet Knights earned postseason honors from the league. Entering the weekend, Wright is the league leader in points (29) and goals (13). The Scarlet Knights had a seven-game win streak snapped in the regular-season finale at Maryland, 3-1. They are 5-3-0 at Yurcak Field, winning three straight at home to close out the regular season.