Payne's Wildcats Poised for Competitive Debut at Chicago State

Thursday, August 26

SeatGeek Stadium (Bridgeview, IL)

7 p.m CT

Northwestern

Chicago State

Photo by: photo by John Konstantaras

Payne's Wildcats Poised for Competitive Debut at Chicago State

8/25/2021 12:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

2021 NORTHWESTERN MEN'S SOCCER
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Thursday, Aug. 26	Chicago State	7 p.m. CT	SeatGeek Stadium Bridgeview, Ill.	WAC Digital Network	StatBroadcast
Social: Twitter (@NUMensSoccer) \| Instagram (@NUSoccer)

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern men's soccer opens the 2021 season on Thursday night at Chicago State in head coach Russell Payne's first competitive game at the helm of the program. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill and will be streamed on the WAC Digital Network.

Payne took over this summer after an 11-year stint in charge of Army in the Patriot League. Payne won his most recent season opener in 2020, 1-0, against Merchant Marine.

The Wildcats return 11 of their top 12 players in minutes played from the 2021 spring season for this fall, highlighted by Big Ten Preseason Players to Watch Richie Bennett and Vicente Castro. Junior forward Jose del Valle, who missed the 2020 season, returns as the third Player to Watch and is poised to lead the front line. Castro tied for a team-high four assists last season.

In goal, the 'Cats return four-year veteran Miha Miskovic and graduate student Ethan Bandre, who impressed last year for the 'Cats after a strong undergraduate career at Pacific.

The Wildcats have never faced off with crosstown rivals Chicago State before, but they will return to a familiar venue in SeatGeek Stadium. In 2015, Northwestern played all of its home matches at then-named Toyota Park, going 3-3-2, while Martin Stadium waas under construction. In 2016, the 'Cats returned for a special match against Notre Dame, ranked No. 2 in the country, and pulled off a historic 2-1 upset in overtime.