Friday, September 13
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
UCLA
Photo by: Ayelet Prottas/Northwestern Athletics
No. 14 Northwestern Hosts UCLA In Big Ten Opener Friday
9/12/2024 1:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer
‘Cats, Bruins to meet for only the second time
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 12, 2024) – Looking to stay perfect at home, No. 14 Northwestern (5-1) opens Big Ten Conference play on Friday evening when it welcomes league newcomer UCLA to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Kickoff between the 'Cats and Bruins is set for 7 p.m.
Admission to all Northwestern men's soccer games at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is free throughout the regular season.
LAST TIME OUT
After suffering its first defeat of the season, 1-0, on the road at No. 4 Western Michigan last Friday, Northwestern bounced back with a 1-0 blanking of Marquette this past Monday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Nigel Prince became the eighth different Wildcat to score this season when he headed home the night's deciding goal in the 84th minute off a Collin McCamy corner kick. Rafael Ponce de León added two saves in goal as the 'Cats posted their third clean sheet of the season.
SCOUTING UCLA
After playing No. 3 Denver to a scoreless stalemate, 0-0, this past Monday in Los Angeles, Calif., UCLA, which is receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, enters Big Ten Conference play at 2-1-2 overall. Friday's tilt with the 'Cats marks the Bruins' first game away from Wallis Annenberg Stadium and fifth matchup this season against a team inside the top 20 of the national rankings.
Led by sixth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, UCLA, which appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the 47th time in program history in 2023, was picked third in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
Edrey Caceres, a graduate transfer from Marquette, leads the Bruins' attack this season with a pair of goals, both scored in a season-opening 2-0 blanking of No. 11 Loyola Marymount on August 22. Caceres shares the team lead in overall points (4) with Tamir Ratoviz, who has a goal and two assists to his name. The freshman was instrumental in UCLA's 2-0 win over No. 8 Portland, scoring the game-winning goal while also dishing out an assist.
The pairing of Sam Joseph and Wyatt Nelson has split time in goal this season for Jorden's team. Joseph has yet to allow a goal in his three appearances and made a season-high three stops in the Bruins' aforementioned victory over Portland. Nelson has seen action in a pair of contests, a scoreless draw with No. 18 James Madison and a 3-1 setback to Cal State Fullerton.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and UCLA will meet for just the second time in Friday's Big Ten Conference opener. The only previous matchup between the two programs took place back on August 30, 2019 when the Bruins prevailed in overtime by a 1-0 final in a neutral site meeting in Bloomington, Ind. Miha Miskovic led the 'Cats in the defeat, making three saves in goal.
Under fourth-year head coach Russell Payne, Northwestern is 0-2-1 (.167) in Big Ten Conference openers and 1-2-0 (.333) in its league home openers.
UP NEXT
Northwestern matches up against another Big Ten Conference newcomer on Friday, September 20 as it heads to the Pacific Northwest for a clash with Washington on Friday, September 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (CT) at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle, Wash.
Admission to all Northwestern men's soccer games at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium is free throughout the regular season.
LAST TIME OUT
After suffering its first defeat of the season, 1-0, on the road at No. 4 Western Michigan last Friday, Northwestern bounced back with a 1-0 blanking of Marquette this past Monday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Nigel Prince became the eighth different Wildcat to score this season when he headed home the night's deciding goal in the 84th minute off a Collin McCamy corner kick. Rafael Ponce de León added two saves in goal as the 'Cats posted their third clean sheet of the season.
SCOUTING UCLA
After playing No. 3 Denver to a scoreless stalemate, 0-0, this past Monday in Los Angeles, Calif., UCLA, which is receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, enters Big Ten Conference play at 2-1-2 overall. Friday's tilt with the 'Cats marks the Bruins' first game away from Wallis Annenberg Stadium and fifth matchup this season against a team inside the top 20 of the national rankings.
Led by sixth-year head coach Ryan Jorden, UCLA, which appeared in the NCAA Tournament for the 47th time in program history in 2023, was picked third in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
Edrey Caceres, a graduate transfer from Marquette, leads the Bruins' attack this season with a pair of goals, both scored in a season-opening 2-0 blanking of No. 11 Loyola Marymount on August 22. Caceres shares the team lead in overall points (4) with Tamir Ratoviz, who has a goal and two assists to his name. The freshman was instrumental in UCLA's 2-0 win over No. 8 Portland, scoring the game-winning goal while also dishing out an assist.
The pairing of Sam Joseph and Wyatt Nelson has split time in goal this season for Jorden's team. Joseph has yet to allow a goal in his three appearances and made a season-high three stops in the Bruins' aforementioned victory over Portland. Nelson has seen action in a pair of contests, a scoreless draw with No. 18 James Madison and a 3-1 setback to Cal State Fullerton.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and UCLA will meet for just the second time in Friday's Big Ten Conference opener. The only previous matchup between the two programs took place back on August 30, 2019 when the Bruins prevailed in overtime by a 1-0 final in a neutral site meeting in Bloomington, Ind. Miha Miskovic led the 'Cats in the defeat, making three saves in goal.
Under fourth-year head coach Russell Payne, Northwestern is 0-2-1 (.167) in Big Ten Conference openers and 1-2-0 (.333) in its league home openers.
UP NEXT
Northwestern matches up against another Big Ten Conference newcomer on Friday, September 20 as it heads to the Pacific Northwest for a clash with Washington on Friday, September 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (CT) at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle, Wash.
Players Mentioned
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