Thursday, August 14
Chicago, Ill.
7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

at

Loyola Chicago

NUWS
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Open 2025 Season at Loyola Chicago

8/13/2025 3:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women's soccer opens its 32nd season of action on Thursday night at Loyola Chicago. Kickoff from Loyola Soccer Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

Northwestern has won three consecutive season openers dating back to 2022. NU has outscored opponents 9-3 in those contests, all on the road. The Wildcats are 19-10-2 all-time in season openers. Northwestern boasts a 17-3-4 record (.792 winning percentage) in regular season non-conference play since 2022. Northwestern's 17 regular season non-conference wins are tied for second-most in the Big Ten over that span.

Northwestern returns 65% (13/20) of its goals scored from 2024, which ranks fourth among all Big Ten programs. In 2024, Wildcat first-years accounted for 27.6% (5,191/18,810) of total minutes played and 40% (8/20) of total goals scored.

Senior midfielder Caterina Regazzoni, sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch and sophomore forward/midfielder Alex Fallon were named to the 2025 Big Ten Women's Soccer Players to Watch List. The honor marks the third consecutive season Regazzoni has been named to the list, while Roesch and Fallon are making their first appearances.

 
Roesch begins her sophomore year in Evanston this fall after a stellar first season of collegiate action in which she led Northwestern in goals (six) and points (14). She became the first Wildcat to lead the program in scoring as a rookie since 2010. Regazzoni, the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, is coming off a three-goal, three-assist junior season with the Cats, both of which tied career highs. Fallon looks to follow up on a standout freshman campaign in which she scored one goal and logged two assists for four points, which was good for fourth-most on the team.

Michael Moynihan enters his 14th season as head coach in Evanston, where he has earned five NCAA Tournament berths and secured one Big Ten Championship (2016). Moynihan's all-time record with the program is 126-109-39, making him the winningest coach in school history. His five NCAA Tournament Appearances account for all but two of Northwestern's appearances.

Thursday's meeting will mark the first regular season meeting between the 'Cats and Ramblers since 2011. The Wildcats are 10-1-1 all-time against the Ramblers. Northwestern looks to capture its fifth consecutive win over Loyola and extend its unbeaten streak against LUC to six games. Northwestern is 4-0-1 all-time in Rogers Park. In their last meeting in 2011, NU blanked the Ramblers 3-0 in Evanston.

The Ramblers finished last season 9-9-5 (4-2-4 Atlantic 10), good for a sixth-place finish in the 15-team Atlantic 10. Loyola goalkeeper Allison Deardroff was named to the 2024 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, posting a 0.71 goals against average and an .846 save percentage.

Northwestern continues its season-opening road swing on Sunday, August 17, with a matchup at Illinois State at 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+ before heading to North Carolina to take on 2024 College Cup participant Duke at 5 p.m. CT on August 21. The 'Cats will play their home opener on August 24 against Kent State at 5 p.m. CT.

Players Mentioned

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Women's Soccer - Wildcats Blank Loyola 2-0 in Season Opener (8/14/25)
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BEST OF: Kennedy Roesch Rookie Reel
Thursday, August 14