Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Announce 2016 Women's Soccer Schedule
6/21/2016 3:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer
FULL SCHEDULE
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Fifth-year head coach Michael Moynihan announced the 2016 Northwestern women's soccer schedule on Tuesday afternoon. The 19-game regular season includes ten matches at the newly renovated Lanny & Sharon Martin Stadium in Evanston.
Last year, construction of the field forced the Wildcats to play at Toyota Park, the home of the Major League Soccer Chicago Fire team.
The #B1GCats announce the 2016 women's soccer schedule!
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) June 21, 2016
RELEASE: https://t.co/TJWTKn0R2P pic.twitter.com/8MWhA85ecu
Before the regular season gets underway, Northwestern will travel to South Bend, Ind., to play Notre Dame on Aug. 9. The game marks the 'Cats only exhibition match this year.
The regular season begins on the road for NU, where they will compete in the James Madison Tournament in Harrisonburg, Va., for a pair of games against VCU and James Madison on Aug. 19 and Aug. 21, respectively.
Northwestern continues its four-game road tour at DePaul on Aug. 25 before facing off against Kentucky three days later. The Wildcats are 1-4 in the overall series against Kentucky as the squads meet for the first time since 2006.
The Wildcats will kick off a six-game homestand on Sept. 1 against Indiana State, following by three non-conference games against Colorado State (Sept. 4), Illinois State (Sept. 8) and Marquette (Sept. 11).
Chicago's Big Ten Team opens its Big Ten slate at Martin Stadium on Sept. 15 against Indiana before a matchup against Purdue on Sept. 18. The 'Cats opened their league schedule against the Boilermakers last year and walked away with a 1-0 victory in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Purple and White hit the road once again to take on Rutgers on Friday, Sept. 23, in Piscataway, N.J. Last season, NU shocked a fierce opponent in then-No. 11 Rutgers with a golden goal by Nandi Mehta in the 93rd minute at Toyota Park. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a season that saw an appearance in the 2015 College Cup before falling in the semifinals against Big Ten foe and eventual NCAA Champion, Penn State.
Northwestern continues on the road with a pair of games against Maryland (Sept. 25) and Ohio State (Oct. 1), but will return home for a two-game set against Michigan's Big Ten schools. The 'Cats take on the Spartans on Oct. 6 and the Wolverines on Oct. 9 before wrapping up their regular-season road slate. NU is scheduled to face Iowa and Nebraska on Oct. 13 and Oct. 16, respectively.
The 'Cats close out the regular-season with contests versus Minnesota (Oct. 22) and Illinois (Oct. 26).
The 2016 Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals are slated for Sunday, Oct. 30, and the Big Ten Semifinals and Finals will take place Nov. 4 and Nov. 6.
Last season, Northwestern has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998, and the third time in program history. Their second-round run marked just the second time the 'Cats advanced past the round of 64.Northwestern went 13-5-2 during the regular-season with seven Big Ten victories – the most since 1998 – and appeared in the NSCAA polls for the first time in 17 years. Northwestern did not lose a single match against a team ranked outside the RPI top 45.
Northwestern returns seven starters to the 2016 roster, including fifth-year senior and two-time co-captain Nandi Mehta and starting goalkeeper Lauren Clem.
The #B1GCats tournament bid was bolstered by the stalwart play between the pipes. Clem and the Wildcats' young defense posted a program-best 12 shutouts as well as a goals-against-average of just .530, which ranked among the NCAA's top 10.
Abby Dein and Maddy Lucas will be headed to Evanston to join the Wildcats for the 2016 season. Dein, a standout midfielder for nearby Eclipse Select Soccer Club, and Lucas, the top scorer for her high school in Michigan, will look to keep Northwestern on the rise.
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