Wildcats Open Exhibition Play With Shutout Win over Schwaben AC, 1-0

Sunday, August 16

Buffalo Grove, Ill.

4:30 p.m.

Northwestern

Schwaben AC (Exhibition)

Northwestern University Men's Soccer against Michigan State during their game on Oct 6, 2013 in Evanston, Ill.

Calistri, Joey (10)

Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera

Wildcats Open Exhibition Play With Shutout Win over Schwaben AC, 1-0

8/16/2015 8:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — The Northwestern men's soccer program played its first exhibition match of the season Sunday and came away with a shutout victory over Schwaben AC, 1-0.

The Schwaben Athletic Club has been a mainstay in the Chicagoland area since 1926 and played host to the Wildcats in Buffalo Grove while the city's annual Oktoberfest took place nearby.

Senior Joey Calistri scored the lone goal for the Wildcats on a penalty kick after Schwaben AC was called for hand ball in the box just eight-plus minutes into the contest. Calistri, the 'Cats' active career leader with 27 goals, went high and right down the middle while the opposing goalkeeper guessed right to no avail.

"With the ability to play three exhibition matches, it was great to be able to play a local club team in the first exhibition," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "Positives were that we got to play everyone 45 minutes so our freshmen got their first minutes as Wildcats. We still have a long way to go fitness wise and defensively if we are going to be a good team."

Exciting Opening Minutes
Both teams nearly found the back of the net before Calistri buried his penalty kick in the ninth minute. Schwaben had the first real scoring chance of the contest when a header hit the crossbar, but the defense was able to clear the ball before a second chance was taken. Northwestern countered with a chance of its own in the sixth minute when junior transfer Willis Griffith put a header of his own on goal, but his attempt hit the post.

Goalkeepers Stay Steady
One of the biggest holes Coach Lenahan will have to fill this year will be the absence of 2015 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and All-American Tyler Miller. The 'Cats and Miller posted nine shutouts last season, but a core return of defenders should help ease the transition to a new net minder this season. A trio of keepers helped post the shutout over Schwaben AC Sunday as senior Zak Allen played the entire first half and made three save before sophomore Francisco Tomasino came in for the first 30 minutes of the second half and made a pair of saves. True freshman Robbie White played the final 14:24 of the contest and did not face a shot.

Freshman See First Action
The Wildcats and Schwaben AC played a full 90-minute contest Sunday with Coach Lenahan splitting his team into groups for each half. The second half saw six freshman make their Northwestern debut as Shannon Seymour, Jake Roberge, Camden Buescher, Emmett Gordon and Ben Miller started the half before White entered in net in the 76th minute.

Mr. 90 Minutes
After starting all 19 games and logging a team high 1,801 minutes for position players last season (second only to goalkeeper Tyler Miller), junior defender Nathan Dearth was the only Wildcat to play all 90 minutes and was key in helping the Wildcats post the shutout.

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