Men’s Soccer Opens 2022 Campaign at Home Against Chicago State

NORTHWESTERN MEN'S SOCCER: GAME INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Thursday, August 25	Chicago State	7:30 p.m. CT	Martin Stadium Evanston, Ill.	B1G+	Live Stats
Sunday, August 28	FGCU	6 p.m. CT	FGCU Soccer Complex Fort Myers, Fla.	N/A	Live Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern men's soccer team kicks off the 2022 season at home, Thursday, August 25, as the Wildcats host Chicago State at 7:30 p.m. CT at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. The game will be broadcast on B1G+. Later in the week, NU travels to FGCU for a 6 p.m. CT tilt on Sunday, August 28.

The 'Cats begin the second year of the Russell Payne era on the heels of a 6-9-3 season in 2021. Payne's squad entered the Big Ten Tournament after going 3-5 in conference play, before showing a glimpse of what could come. As the seven seed, Northwestern knocked off second-seeded Maryland in penalty kicks, before keeping pace with third-seeded Indiana until overtime of the tournament semifinals. The upset over the Terrapins, along with the near upset of the Hoosiers, provided a look at the potential that Payne's squad could have in his second season after coming from Army.

Northwestern returns a large amount of talent from last year's team, led by junior Justin Weiss, who was named to the All-Big Ten First Team after scoring eight goals in 2021. Additionally, the team brings back senior Vincente Castro, the team-leader with seven assists. Roughly 89 percent of the team's goal-scoring returns to the roster in 2022. NU was tabbed to finish seventh in the Big Ten Coaches' Poll, with Castro, Ethan Dudley and Weiss named to the league's players to watch list.

However, the story of the offseason wasn't just the return of many starters, but also the additions through the high school ranks and the transfer portal. Payne assembled the No. 5 recruiting class in the country, according to Top Drawer Soccer, then also brought in five transfers in goalkeeper Christian Garner (Boston College), defenders Brandon Clagette (Pittsburgh) and Dudley (FGCU), and midfielders Andrew Stevens (Columbia) and Brett Chrisman (Colgate). The additions will shore up a defensive unit that lost goalkeeper Miha Miskovic, along with defensemen Spencer Farina and Julian Zighelboim.

This is only the second ever matchup between Northwestern and Chicago State, and the second in as many seasons. NU fell, 2-1, in the 2021 season opener at Chicago State. Northwestern will then travel to Fort Myers, Fla.,, to take on FGCU on Sunday. The Wildcats won their only matchup against the Eagles in the 2016 home opener, 2-1.

The two weekend matchups against Chicago State and FGCU are part of a six-game non-conference slate to open the season before the Wildcats begin their non-conference schedule at Rutgers on September 17. Northwestern returns home at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 2 to battle Loyola Chicago.

Men’s Soccer Opens 2022 Campaign at Home Against Chicago State

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Players Mentioned

Brett Chrisman

Brandon Clagette

Ethan Dudley

Spencer Farina

Christian Garner

Miha Miskovic

Andrew Stevens

Justin Weiss

Julian Zighelboim

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics