Friday, August 26
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
vs
Florida Gulf Coast
Northwestern Set to Open Martin Stadium, 2016 Campaign
8/25/2016 10:40:00 AM | Men's Soccer
| NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S SOCCER AT DEPAUL/KENTUCKY | ||||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | LIVE STATS | WATCH | |
| Aug. 26 | Florida Gulf Coast | 7 p.m. CT | Evanston, Ill. | Stat Broadcast | Stream | |
| Social: Twitter (@NUMensSoccer and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@NUSoccer) | Facebook | ||||||
EVANSTON, Ill. — The 2016 Northwestern University men's soccer season will begin on a historic note with the Wildcats hosting Florida Gulf Coast for the first soccer game at the new Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. CT.
The stadium, which underwent construction in April of 2015, was completed early last spring. Renovations to the facility include a new turf surface, bleachers with chair-back seating, LED board, audio system, improved lighting, on-site restroom facility for fans and other amenities.
The Martin family will be in attendance on Friday evening for a dedication ceremony and on-field recognition.
Early arriving fans to Friday night's season-opener will receiver a free Northwestern soccer scarf. Limited supplies last, however, fans can guarantee themselves a scarf by purchasing season tickets.
Florida Gulf Coast enters Friday's match coming off its sixth-straight Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title. The Eagles finished the 2015 season 7-4-3 overall and 4-0-1 in ASUN play. FGCU received votes in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Preseason Poll.
A live stream of Friday's match can be found here.
HEAD COACH – TIM LENAHAN
Head coach Tim Lenahan enters his 16th season at the helm of the Wildcats. During his tenure, he has taken the program to the NCAA Tournament on nine occasions and won the Big Ten regular season twice (2011, 2012) in addition to one conference tournament title in 2011. Last season, Lenahan earned his 150th victory as NU's head coach when the 'Cats topped Penn State, 2-1, on Nov. 11, 2015.
LAST SEASON'S STORY
Northwestern finished the 2015 campaign with a 7-9-2 record overall and a 4-4 mark in conference play, which tied the team for third in the Big Ten standings. Joey Calistri, who is currently a member of Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire, was the team's leader in points with 12 (3g, 6a). Calistri finished his career in tie for second on Northwestern's all-time goals list (30) and fourth in career points with 74.
The Wildcats will have a new man between the pipes this season as Zak Allen, who started and played all 18 matches in 2015, graduated. Junior Francisco Tomasino and redshirt freshmen Braden Thuraisingham and Robbie White are in line to replace Allen.
The #B1GCats return their next top five point-getters from a season ago in Mike Roberge (9; 4g, 1a), Elo Ozumba (6; 3g), Jeffrey Hopson (5; 1g, 3 a), Nathan Dearth (4; 1g, 2a) and Camden Buescher (4; 1g, 2a).
THE SEASON AHEAD
Northwestern will play ten home games in 2016 at the new Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium and seven contests against 2015 NCAA Tournament teams. Six of Northwestern's 2016 foes appeared in the NSCAA's Preseason Poll, including No. 4 Maryland, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 15 Indiana, No. 18 Ohio State, No. 20 Denver and No. 25 Rutgers. Florida Gulf Coast and Santa Clara received votes in the poll.
HEEEEE'S BACK
Senior Brandon Medina returns to the pitch in 2016 after missing last year with a leg injury. In 29 career games , Medina has accounted for 18 points on four goals and 10 assists. Two of Medina's four career goals have been game-winners.
BIG TEN PRESEASON HONORS
Along with Medina, Dearth and fellow senior Jeffrey Hopson have earned Big Ten Preseason Honors.
Dearth has started and played in every game the last two seasons. He is the returning minutes leader from the 2015 team, where he finished the campaign with a goal and two assists. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2015.
Hopson enters his final campaign in Purple having played in every game during his career (58) and has started in 42 consecutive games. He tallied a career-high three assists in 2015 and chipped in a goal in the season opener against Colgate.
THE CAPTAINS
Coach Lenahan has named Dearth, Hopson and Medina as the team's captains heading into the 2016 campaign.
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