Northwestern University Athletics
A Senior Night Surprise
10/22/2017 5:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Hugh Mallen
NUSports.com writer
There are some moments in sports that trump winning, according to head men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan. Friday night was one of those moments.
Northwestern senior defender Riley Kelliher hails from Wellington, New Zealand. For the Wildcats' Senior Night ceremony on Friday, Kelliher thought he was going to be joined by volunteer assistant coach Ovidio Felcaro, who typically accompanies seniors when family members or friends are not able to make the game. Kelliher was the final senior introduced and as the Martin Stadium public address announcer finished listing off his accomplishments, Kelliher and the crowd were told to direct their attention to the videoboard for a special message from Kelliher's mom, Tracy, back home in New Zealand.
Tracy had never seen Riley play at Martin Stadium, and Riley figured that was not going to change. He was wrong.
As the video concluded, Tracy snuck out from the Martin Stadium press box to be on the field. Riley turned around from watching the video to see his mom on the field in person. It was the first time they had seen each other in over 10 months.
"A week ago, she told me she was going on a surprise trip, but I had no idea she was coming here," Kelliher said. "She usually wakes up early to see me play, but it was much more special to have her come watch me in person."
Tracy travelled over 8,000 miles from her home in the capital of New Zealand to Evanston, more than a 20-hour direct flight. The surprise was executed to perfection.
She was impressed with the love surrounding Riley, seeing the team as his second family.
"All the other mothers hugged him during the ceremony, and they have really taken care of him during his time here," she said. "I'm so grateful for the Northwestern family that he has."
The 'Cats snapped their three-game winning streak to No. 9 Michigan State on Friday night, losing 2-0 on two Spartan goals in the last fifteen minutes. Kelliher was given the captain arm band before the game. He played all ninety minutes in his penultimate home match in Evanston.
In his seventeenth season at the helm, Lenahan could not hold back emotion from this special night.
"I got pretty choked up from watching it," he said. "It was a really cool moment, and I thought Riley played great."
Riley has been a mainstay for Northwestern's defense throughout his career, appearing in 55 matches with 38 starts. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree has notched four assists in his career, including the set up on the game-winning goal to help Northwestern knock off No. 2 Notre Dame in 2016.
"I've been really proud to be a part of the team, it's always been a great honor to play for Northwestern," Kelliher said. "I left my friends and family at home to come here, but Northwestern's been like a second family to me. I love my teammates"
Northwestern will play its final regular-season home match on Tuesday, Oct. 24 against Loyola at 4 p.m. CT. The Wildcats then head to Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 29 for the regular-season finale.
NUSports.com writer
There are some moments in sports that trump winning, according to head men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan. Friday night was one of those moments.
Northwestern senior defender Riley Kelliher hails from Wellington, New Zealand. For the Wildcats' Senior Night ceremony on Friday, Kelliher thought he was going to be joined by volunteer assistant coach Ovidio Felcaro, who typically accompanies seniors when family members or friends are not able to make the game. Kelliher was the final senior introduced and as the Martin Stadium public address announcer finished listing off his accomplishments, Kelliher and the crowd were told to direct their attention to the videoboard for a special message from Kelliher's mom, Tracy, back home in New Zealand.
Tracy had never seen Riley play at Martin Stadium, and Riley figured that was not going to change. He was wrong.
As the video concluded, Tracy snuck out from the Martin Stadium press box to be on the field. Riley turned around from watching the video to see his mom on the field in person. It was the first time they had seen each other in over 10 months.
"A week ago, she told me she was going on a surprise trip, but I had no idea she was coming here," Kelliher said. "She usually wakes up early to see me play, but it was much more special to have her come watch me in person."
Tracy travelled over 8,000 miles from her home in the capital of New Zealand to Evanston, more than a 20-hour direct flight. The surprise was executed to perfection.
She was impressed with the love surrounding Riley, seeing the team as his second family.
"All the other mothers hugged him during the ceremony, and they have really taken care of him during his time here," she said. "I'm so grateful for the Northwestern family that he has."
The 'Cats snapped their three-game winning streak to No. 9 Michigan State on Friday night, losing 2-0 on two Spartan goals in the last fifteen minutes. Kelliher was given the captain arm band before the game. He played all ninety minutes in his penultimate home match in Evanston.
In his seventeenth season at the helm, Lenahan could not hold back emotion from this special night.
"I got pretty choked up from watching it," he said. "It was a really cool moment, and I thought Riley played great."
Riley has been a mainstay for Northwestern's defense throughout his career, appearing in 55 matches with 38 starts. The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree has notched four assists in his career, including the set up on the game-winning goal to help Northwestern knock off No. 2 Notre Dame in 2016.
"I've been really proud to be a part of the team, it's always been a great honor to play for Northwestern," Kelliher said. "I left my friends and family at home to come here, but Northwestern's been like a second family to me. I love my teammates"
Northwestern will play its final regular-season home match on Tuesday, Oct. 24 against Loyola at 4 p.m. CT. The Wildcats then head to Penn State on Sunday, Oct. 29 for the regular-season finale.
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