Saturday, September 6
Cincinnati, Ohio
5:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Xavier
Photo by: Mallory Arndt/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Open Road Slate Saturday At Xavier
9/5/2025 10:05:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Clash with Musketeers begins three-game road swing for Northwestern
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 5, 2025) – Following four straight games at home to open the 2025 season, Northwestern men's soccer (2-1-1) hits the road for the first time on Saturday, opening up a three-game road swing when it heads east to Cincinnati, Ohio to battle Xavier. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Musketeers is set for 5:30 p.m. CT at Corcoran Field.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern hosted a pair of local rivals last weekend at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw with Loyola Chicago ahead of a 3-2 setback against UIC.
Joe Suchecki continued his red-hot play of late, finding the back of the net in both matchups to bring his streak of games with a goal to three. Nigel Prince also netted his first goal of 2025 in Monday's meeting with the Flames.
Alejandro Martinez Santamaria assisted on both of Suchecki's tallies last week to up his assist total to four, a mark which leads the Big Ten Conference.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier has split its opening two games of the 2025 season, blanking Saint Francis (PA), 3-0, back on August 21 before dropping a 3-1 decision on the road at Bellarmine this past Saturday. Piloted by fourth-year head coach John Higgins, the Musketeers were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference's Midwest Division. Higgins' team is looking to bounce back after finishing 4-8-5 (1-5-2 BIG EAST) in 2024.
Cooper Forcellini has led the Xavier line during the season's early days, scoring in both of the Musketeers' first two games. Forcellini's eighth-minute penalty kick goal went down as the deciding strike in Xavier's aforementioned win over Saint Francis (PA). Harun Bakaran and Gun Ha Lee also found the back of the net against the Red Flash.
Veteran goalkeeper Jonny Mennell has started in both games between the pipes this season. Mennell, who piled up seven shutouts in 2024, tallied four saves in Xavier's season-opening victory.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Xavier will meet for the 10th time on Saturday evening in The Queen City. The 'Cats hold a 4-2-3 (.611) lead as part of an all-time series that traces its roots back to a 2-1 Musketeers' win on October 7, 1989.
Northwestern and Xavier last met on September 12, 2021 at Corcoran Field, where the hosts held on for a 1-0 victory during head coach Russell Payne's first season in Evanston.
Saturday's matchup will mark the Wildcats' 75th all-time meeting with a current BIG EAST Conference member. Northwester owns a slim 34-32-8 (.513) edge in the previous 74 encounters, 34 of which have come against local rival DePaul.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads west for a two-game swing through Southern California next week. The 'Cats raise the curtain on their Big Ten Conference slate on Friday, September 12 against UCLA at Wallis Annenberg Stadium before trekking east on Monday, September 15 to step back outside league play at UC Riverside.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern hosted a pair of local rivals last weekend at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw with Loyola Chicago ahead of a 3-2 setback against UIC.
Joe Suchecki continued his red-hot play of late, finding the back of the net in both matchups to bring his streak of games with a goal to three. Nigel Prince also netted his first goal of 2025 in Monday's meeting with the Flames.
Alejandro Martinez Santamaria assisted on both of Suchecki's tallies last week to up his assist total to four, a mark which leads the Big Ten Conference.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier has split its opening two games of the 2025 season, blanking Saint Francis (PA), 3-0, back on August 21 before dropping a 3-1 decision on the road at Bellarmine this past Saturday. Piloted by fourth-year head coach John Higgins, the Musketeers were picked to finish third in the BIG EAST Conference's Midwest Division. Higgins' team is looking to bounce back after finishing 4-8-5 (1-5-2 BIG EAST) in 2024.
Cooper Forcellini has led the Xavier line during the season's early days, scoring in both of the Musketeers' first two games. Forcellini's eighth-minute penalty kick goal went down as the deciding strike in Xavier's aforementioned win over Saint Francis (PA). Harun Bakaran and Gun Ha Lee also found the back of the net against the Red Flash.
Veteran goalkeeper Jonny Mennell has started in both games between the pipes this season. Mennell, who piled up seven shutouts in 2024, tallied four saves in Xavier's season-opening victory.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Xavier will meet for the 10th time on Saturday evening in The Queen City. The 'Cats hold a 4-2-3 (.611) lead as part of an all-time series that traces its roots back to a 2-1 Musketeers' win on October 7, 1989.
Northwestern and Xavier last met on September 12, 2021 at Corcoran Field, where the hosts held on for a 1-0 victory during head coach Russell Payne's first season in Evanston.
Saturday's matchup will mark the Wildcats' 75th all-time meeting with a current BIG EAST Conference member. Northwester owns a slim 34-32-8 (.513) edge in the previous 74 encounters, 34 of which have come against local rival DePaul.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads west for a two-game swing through Southern California next week. The 'Cats raise the curtain on their Big Ten Conference slate on Friday, September 12 against UCLA at Wallis Annenberg Stadium before trekking east on Monday, September 15 to step back outside league play at UC Riverside.
Players Mentioned
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