Northwestern University Athletics
Nothwestern Hosts Santa Clara at Martin Stadium
8/28/2016 5:23:00 PM | Men's Soccer
| NORTHWESTERN SOCCER VS. SANTA CLARA | ||||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | LIVE STATS | WATCH | |
| Aug. 29 | Santa Clara | 6 p.m. CT | Evanston, Ill. | Stat Broadcast | Stream | |
| Social: Twitter (@NUMensSoccer and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@NUSoccer) | Facebook | ||||||
EVANSTON, Ill. — After opening the season with a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast Friday night at the new Martin Stadium, Northwestern will looked to defend home turf again when it hosts Santa Clara on Monday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. CT.
Santa Clara comes to Martin Stadium after suffering a 1-0 loss to Wisconsin on Friday night to open the season. The Broncos outshot the Badgers in the contest, 10-7, but only managed to put a pair of shots on target.
Santa Clara was picked to finish first in the West Coast Conference preseason poll. Last season the Broncos finished 11-8-1 overall and claimed the WCC title, before advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Senior midfielder Brandon Medina scored both of Northwestern's goals in the season-opener from the penalty spot.
Francisco Tomasino earned the start in net and made four saves in the winning effort.
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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