Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
6 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Alabama
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Visits Alabama for First Round of NCAA Tournament
11/13/2025 4:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women's soccer will make its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance when it squares off with Alabama on Friday night. Kickoff from Alabama Soccer Complex is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Northwestern (9-4-7, 4-2-5 Big Ten) is 4-2-1 all-time in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are making their sixth appearance under head coach Michael Moynihan, who is 3-1-1 in the First Round in his time at Northwestern.
Last week, four Wildcats earned All-Big Ten Honors, NU's most in a season since 2023. Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, senior defender Brooke Miller and senior midfielder Caterina Regazzoni were both named Second Team All-Big Ten and first-year midfielder Keira Kemmerley was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally with 10 shutouts on the 2025 campaign. Nelson's 10 clean sheets are fourth-most in school history and most by a first-year goalkeeper in school history. NU's 10 shutouts are its most in a season since 2022 (10).
Roesch leads all Wildcats and ranks second in the Big Ten with nine goals in 2025. During her rookie campaign in Evanston, Kennedy Roesch led all Wildcats with six goals and 14 points. Roesch's six goals marked the most by a Wildcat first-year since 2010 (Kate Allen). NU is 9-1-4 over the last two seasons when Roesch tallies a goal.
Alabama (11-8-1, 4-6-0 SEC) finished 10th in the SEC and advanced to the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals, where it fell to Vanderbilt, 2-1. The Crimson Tide are making their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth in the last five seasons.
The Tide are led offensively by senior forward Gianna Paul, who holds the all-time Alabama records in goals (38) and points (89). Paul ranks second in the SEC in points (26) and fourth in the SEC in goals (10). Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Madi Munguia has started 17 games for Alabama, posting a .676 save percentage to go with a 1.41 goals against average.
The winner of Friday night's First Round matchup will advance to the Second Round, where it'll face the winner of No. 1 Stanford and Cal Poly at a campus site to be determined.
Northwestern (9-4-7, 4-2-5 Big Ten) is 4-2-1 all-time in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are making their sixth appearance under head coach Michael Moynihan, who is 3-1-1 in the First Round in his time at Northwestern.
Friday's meeting will be the first ever between Northwestern and Alabama on the pitch. NU is 1-1 against the SEC in the NCAA Tournament, most recently defeating Vanderbilt, 2-1 in the Second Round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.LET'S DANCE ????
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) November 10, 2025
We'll play at Alabama in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament! pic.twitter.com/CUXfcvTNrl
Last week, four Wildcats earned All-Big Ten Honors, NU's most in a season since 2023. Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, senior defender Brooke Miller and senior midfielder Caterina Regazzoni were both named Second Team All-Big Ten and first-year midfielder Keira Kemmerley was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth nationally with 10 shutouts on the 2025 campaign. Nelson's 10 clean sheets are fourth-most in school history and most by a first-year goalkeeper in school history. NU's 10 shutouts are its most in a season since 2022 (10).
Roesch leads all Wildcats and ranks second in the Big Ten with nine goals in 2025. During her rookie campaign in Evanston, Kennedy Roesch led all Wildcats with six goals and 14 points. Roesch's six goals marked the most by a Wildcat first-year since 2010 (Kate Allen). NU is 9-1-4 over the last two seasons when Roesch tallies a goal.
Alabama (11-8-1, 4-6-0 SEC) finished 10th in the SEC and advanced to the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals, where it fell to Vanderbilt, 2-1. The Crimson Tide are making their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth in the last five seasons.
The Tide are led offensively by senior forward Gianna Paul, who holds the all-time Alabama records in goals (38) and points (89). Paul ranks second in the SEC in points (26) and fourth in the SEC in goals (10). Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Madi Munguia has started 17 games for Alabama, posting a .676 save percentage to go with a 1.41 goals against average.
The winner of Friday night's First Round matchup will advance to the Second Round, where it'll face the winner of No. 1 Stanford and Cal Poly at a campus site to be determined.
WE'RE IN ??
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) November 10, 2025
Our @NCAASoccer Tournament journey begins on Friday at 6 p.m. CT at Alabama! pic.twitter.com/8HH4cDxQY2
Players Mentioned
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