No. 25 Wildcats Host Hoosiers to Start Homestand

10/10/2018 1:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: by Grant Bayer

2018 NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S SOCCER
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	LOCATION	WATCH	LISTEN	LIVE STATS
Thursday, Oct. 11	Indiana	7 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN2Go	WNUR	Sidearm
Match Notes: NU \| IND Social: Twitter (@NUWSoccer) \| Instagram (@NUWSoccer) \| Facebook

EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 25 Northwestern will look to start a crucial homestand with a win on Thursday, as the Wildcats host Big Ten foe Indiana at 7 p.m.

Northwestern returns to Martin Stadium after a tough road trip, as the 'Cats went winless, falling to Rutgers, 1-0, and Maryland, 2-1.

The Wildcats moved to 8-4-1 on the season and 2-4-1 in conference after the loss to Maryland. Following Thursday's matchup with Indiana, Northwestern will stay at home to face Purdue and Illinois, giving the 'Cats a chance to climb up the Big Ten standings.

Senior Brenna Lovera scored the lone goal vs the Terrapins, her sixth of the season and 17th of her career, moving her into the top 10 of the Wildcat all-time goals list.

Fellow senior Marisa Viggiano added an assist vs Maryland, the 19th of her career, putting her one short of second place on the NU all-time assist list.

First-year goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood and the defense will look to continue what has been a solid performance so far this year, with Wood ranked first in the Big Ten in save percentage [.842] and goals against average [.61].

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Indiana

The Hoosiers are 7-5-2 with a 3-4 record in the Big Ten, featuring wins over Michigan, Michigan State, and most recently, Minnesota. Two of their conference losses have come in double overtime against Nebraska and Purdue.

Abby Allen leads the team with seven goals and seven assists, with her point total the second-best in the Big Ten. Mykayla Brown has been in form recently, scoring five goals in her last five. Goalkeeper Bethany Kopel has started every match this season and has three shutouts while keeping a 1.57 goals-against-average and a .755 save percentage.

Indiana's offense ranks first in the Big Ten, leading in goals (30), assists (35), points (95), goals per game (2.14) and assists per game (2.5).

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