'Cats Close Non-Conference Schedule in Centennial State

NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S SOCCER: GAME DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Friday, Sept. 11	Colorado State	5 p.m. (CST)	Fort Collins, Colo.	Mountain West Network	GameTracker
Sunday, Sept. 13	Colorado	2 p.m. (CST)	Boulder, Colo.	Pac-12 Network (MTN)	GameTracker
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EVANSTON, Ill. - The Wildcats opened their 2015 slate with three-straight shutout victories against North Dakota, Valparaiso and Boston University to mark the best start in program history. Northwestern continued play with a 1-0 loss at the hands of Santa Clara on the road, before rebounding with a 1-0-1 weekend at Toyota Park. Chicago's Big Ten Team claimed a 2-1 victory over Saint Louis and battled to a 0-0 double-overtime draw against Missouri. The 'Cats hit the road once again with a pair of Colorado opponents, beginning Friday, Sept. 11, with Colorado State, followed by a Sunday date with Colorado.

SCOUTING COLORADO STATE (1-3-1)
• Goalkeeper Jesse McGinley has played every minute so far this season, recording one shutout with a .833 save percentage.

• Forwards Hannah Gerdin and Erika Bratschun lead the team in goals (1) and points (2).

Freshman Gerdin also leads the team in shots on goal with 6 while senior Bratschun leads in shot percentage with .500.

• CSU, similar to NU, has a fairly young team with 10 freshman.

• Head Coach Bill Hempen enters is third season as head coach.

• 2015 marks the third season as a varsity program.

SCOUTING COLORADO (4-1-1)
• Colorado enters the weekend, riding a three-game win streak.

• Junior Brie Hooks leads the team with six points (3g, 3a), while Danica Evans and Erin Greening have two goals apiece.

• Kate Scheele has spent a majority of the time in goal with 474 minutes and a save percentage of .765. Scout Watson made aperrances in two games for a total of 90 minutes.

• Colorado was 14-7-1 in 2014 as 10 of those victories came on its home field. The Buffaloes finished 6-4-1 in conference play, earning a program-best third place finish in the Pac- 12.

• The Buffaloes advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2014.

STUNNING STEINER
Steiner, who was named to the 2014 All-Big Ten second team, returned to the pitch after an impressive sophomore campaign. Last year, the Prairie Village, Kansas, native led the team in goals with a career-high 10, including a team-best four game winning goals.

So far this year, Steiner has started in all six matches and currently leads the 'Cats with six points (2g, 2a). She registered goals against North Dakota and Boston University.

BETWEEN THE POSTS
Sophomore Lauren Clem has been a solid presence for the Wildcats' defense this year, playing every minute of the 2015 season. So far this year, she has helped anchor the squad to four shutouts, including three to start the season. Clem owns a .321 goals against average to rank second in the Big Ten and 15th in the country.

In 2014, Clem registered a .810 GAA, the best average in a single season in Northwestern program history.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Northwestern will play seven home contests at Toyota Park - home of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire - one home match at Evanston Township and one contest at New Trier HS while renovations continue on Lanny & Sharon Martin Stadium through the fall. The Wildcats are 3-0-1 at "home" this year.

MARVELOUS MEHTA
Last year, Nandi Mehta was chosen as one of five junior Northwestern student-athlete winners of the NU For Life Irving Kabiller Memorial Award for Excellence in Character, Commitment, and Community. As a winner, she received a $5,000 grant for her own professional development and she used it to attend the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in February and, over the summer, to work with a faculty member at the University of Geneva in Switzerland on reforming medical policy.

B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH
Three retuning Wildcats were recently named to the Big Ten preseason Players to Watch List including fifth-year senior midfielder, Nike Sebo senior midfielder Margo McGinty and Steiner.

OH CAPTAIN(S), MY CAPTAIN(S)
Sebo and senior Nandi Mehta will serve as captains for the 2015 squad. Mehta, a two-time captain logged over 1,700 minutes during the 2014 season and registered a goal and two assists. She has started in every game so far this season.

Now in her final year at Northwestern, Sebo has been a steady presence for Northwestern's midfield, playing in 64 matches during her tenure in Evanston. Last season, Sebo logged 1,810 minutes and registered a goal and three assists. The fifth-year senior scored the game-winning goal against Saint Louis on Aug. 7.

FLASHBACK TO 2014
Chicago's Big Ten Team upset the sixth-ranked Nittany Lions in the opening-round of 2014 Big Ten Tournament for the squad's first tournament win since 1997, and their first win over perennial national power Penn State since 1998.

The #B1GCats also secured wins over four ranked opponents including Marquette (No. 15), Illinois (No. 19), Rutgers (No. 14) and Penn State. Northwestern's nine wins in 2014 were the most under Moynihan.

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'Cats Close Non-Conference Schedule in Centennial State

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Clem

Margo McGinty

Nandi Mehta

Northwestern University Athletics