'Cats Open Season against Redhawks and Demon Deacons

8/15/2018 11:09:00 AM | Women's Soccer

2018 NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S SOCCER
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	LOCATION	WATCH	LISTEN	LIVE STATS
Friday, Aug. 17	Miami (Ohio)	3:30 p.m.	Bloomington, Ind.	N/A	N/A	StatBroadcast
Sunday, Aug. 19	Wake Forest	11:30 a.m.	Bloomington, Ind.	N/A	N/A	StatBroadcast
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EVANSTON Ill. – Northwestern officially opens the new season this week at the Hoosier Challenge Cup in Bloomington, Ind. against Miami of Ohio on Friday and Wake Forest on Sunday.

Kickoff for Friday against Miami is set at 3:30 p.m. while first kick against Wake Forest on Sunday is set at 11:30 a.m. Both games will be hosted by Indiana at Bill Armstrong Stadium with free admission.

The Wildcats are coming off another banner year for the program in 2017 after finishing second in the Big Ten, reaching the final of the Big Ten Tournament and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row. The 'Cats hosted a first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and hosted a Big Ten Quarterfinal for the third consecutive season.

Under head coach Michael Moynihan, Northwestern returns seven starters from last year's squad including three all-conference selections in Kayla Sharples, Marisa Viggiano and Hannah Davison. Viggiano and Sharples were named to the first team All-Big Ten while Davison landed on the third team. All three seniors have been selected to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List as selected by the coaches.

In addition, Viggiano has also been named to the watch list for the Mac Hermann Trophy, given to the most outstanding player in collegiate soccer, joining Lauren Clem as the only two Wildcats to do so.

Along with Sharples and Davison, Nikia Smith returns to the backline after missing last season with an injury. The Wildcats posted 11 shutouts last season, the second best mark in the conference. In 2016, with all three players on the field, the team lead the country in goals-against-average with a .290 mark and shutouts with 17, allowing just seven goals in 23 games.

Along with Viggiano, senior Michele Chernesky and sophomores Regan Steigleder and Madi Kennel return as midfielders in last year's starting eleven. Steigleder finished on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.

Up top, senior Brenna Lovera is poised to lead the line once more for NU, after leading the team in goals in each of the last two seasons. Lovera has a team-high eight game-winning goals in her career.

Northwestern has won its last four season openers dating back to 2014. Last year, the 'Cats defeated crosstown rivals DePaul 1-0 in the first match of the season.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Miami of Ohio

The Redhawks are coming off a tough 2-15-1 season with a 2-8-1 record in the MAC. Scoring just nine goals in 18 contests, the team set a program-low for goals in a season. Head coach Courtney Sirmans returns five starters, including goalkeeper Patricia Koutoulas, who earned Second-Team All-MAC last season. Of the 27 players on the squad, 13 are first-years.

The #B1GCats lead the all-time series against Miami, 2-0. Michael Moynihan was in charge for both games, a 3-1 win in Evanston in 2014 and a 2-1 victory on the road in the 2012.

Wake Forest

The Demon Deacons had a strong 2017, finishing 11-6-4 with a 5-3-2 record in the ACC that landed them in fifth place. The Deacons progressed to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing past Georgetown in the first round at home on penalty kicks, before falling to Big Ten powerhouse Penn State 2-0 in Morgantown, W. Va.

The Deacs also posted 11 shutouts last season, but lost goalkeeper Lindsay Preston. They return four of their top five scorers from last year, including Bailey Feist, who scored eight goals and notched two assists. In the ACC Preseason Poll, Wake Forest was picked to finish eighth.

Head Coach Tony da Luz has coached Wake Forest for 21 seasons and led them to the NCAA Tournament 18 times, including a College Cup appearance in 2011.

The Wildcats and Demon Deacons have never met before. Northwestern is 1-3 all time against ACC foes, with the last meeting coming in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament at Duke in 2016, where the Blue Devils prevailed 1-0. NU defeated Louisville 4-0 in 2002.