Thursday, September 25
Evanston, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
#23 Ohio State
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
'Cats Return Home to Host No. 23 Ohio State and No. 18 Penn State
9/24/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – After a four-game road swing, Northwestern women's soccer returns home to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium for a pair of Big Ten matches against ranked opponents to open its conference home slate.
The Wildcats will host No. 23 Ohio State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT before hosting No. 18 Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Both contests will be streamed on B1G+.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern wrapped up its West Coast road trip with its third consecutive draw to open Big Ten play, a scoreless draw at Oregon on Sunday. First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson collected her fifth clean sheet of the season as Northwestern extended its unbeaten streak to seven games.
NORTHWESTERN NOTABLES
Northwestern (4-1-5, 0-0-3 Big Ten) is unbeaten in its last seven games, its longest unbeaten streak since it started the 2023 season unbeaten through nine games (7-0-2). NU's current seven-game unbeaten streak is tied for the seventh-longest unbeaten streak in program history.
The 'Cats have scored first in eight of their 10 games, and are 4-0-4 this season when scoring first. NU has posted a shutout in all four of its wins so far this season.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson ranks second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally with five shutouts on the 2025 campaign. Nelson's five clean sheets are third-most by a first-year goalkeeper in school history.
Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch leads Northwestern with three goals on the year. As a first-year Roesch led all 'Cats with six goals and 14 points. Roesch's six goals marked the most by a Wildcat first-year since 2010 (Kate Allen). The 'Cats are 6-0-3 when Roesch tallies a goal.
No. 23 Ohio State (4-1-4, 0-0-3 Big Ten) comes to Evanston on a three-game tie streak of its own, playing to scoreless draws in all three of its Big Ten games so far. The Buckeyes have not allowed a goal in their last five games, dating back to a 4-1 win on Aug. 28 at Princeton. Junior forward/midfielder Amanda Schlueter leads OSU with five goals and two assists on the season. Senior goalkeeper Molly Pritchard has allowed just three goals this season, posting a 0.35 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 2025.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
No. 18 Penn State (5-3-2, 1-1-1 Big Ten) hits the road for the first time during conference play this weekend. The Nittany Lions will travel to Illinois on Thursday night before making the trek to Evanston. Sophomore forward Aubrey Kulpa leads Penn State with seven goals this season. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress has a 1.06 goals against average to go with a .677 save percentage on the year.
UP NEXT
Northwestern will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday, Oct. 5 with a home matchup against Nebraska at 1 p.m. CT.
The Wildcats will host No. 23 Ohio State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT before hosting No. 18 Penn State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Both contests will be streamed on B1G+.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern wrapped up its West Coast road trip with its third consecutive draw to open Big Ten play, a scoreless draw at Oregon on Sunday. First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson collected her fifth clean sheet of the season as Northwestern extended its unbeaten streak to seven games.
NORTHWESTERN NOTABLES
Northwestern (4-1-5, 0-0-3 Big Ten) is unbeaten in its last seven games, its longest unbeaten streak since it started the 2023 season unbeaten through nine games (7-0-2). NU's current seven-game unbeaten streak is tied for the seventh-longest unbeaten streak in program history.
The 'Cats have scored first in eight of their 10 games, and are 4-0-4 this season when scoring first. NU has posted a shutout in all four of its wins so far this season.
First-year goalkeeper Nyamma Nelson ranks second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally with five shutouts on the 2025 campaign. Nelson's five clean sheets are third-most by a first-year goalkeeper in school history.
Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch leads Northwestern with three goals on the year. As a first-year Roesch led all 'Cats with six goals and 14 points. Roesch's six goals marked the most by a Wildcat first-year since 2010 (Kate Allen). The 'Cats are 6-0-3 when Roesch tallies a goal.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE?? B1G ones on the Lakefront this weekend??
— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) September 23, 2025
See you there, @NUWildside ?? pic.twitter.com/kaElhtcC3N
No. 23 Ohio State (4-1-4, 0-0-3 Big Ten) comes to Evanston on a three-game tie streak of its own, playing to scoreless draws in all three of its Big Ten games so far. The Buckeyes have not allowed a goal in their last five games, dating back to a 4-1 win on Aug. 28 at Princeton. Junior forward/midfielder Amanda Schlueter leads OSU with five goals and two assists on the season. Senior goalkeeper Molly Pritchard has allowed just three goals this season, posting a 0.35 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in 2025.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
No. 18 Penn State (5-3-2, 1-1-1 Big Ten) hits the road for the first time during conference play this weekend. The Nittany Lions will travel to Illinois on Thursday night before making the trek to Evanston. Sophomore forward Aubrey Kulpa leads Penn State with seven goals this season. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gress has a 1.06 goals against average to go with a .677 save percentage on the year.
UP NEXT
Northwestern will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday, Oct. 5 with a home matchup against Nebraska at 1 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
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