Northwestern Returns Home, Takes On Michigan In Friday Night Tilt

EVANSTON, Ill. (September 24, 2026) – Northwestern returns to Big Ten Conference action on Friday evening, as it hosts Michigan in a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.

The matchup against the Wolverines will serve as the program’s “Nuestros Colores” game in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In addition to airing on B1G+, Friday’s game will be available for viewing on Big Ten Network’s YouTube channel as part of the network’s B1G+ Free Friday initiative.

LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern closed out its non-conference slate with authority, erupting for five goals in just over 20 minutes in the second half in a 5-2 win over UIC last Saturday at Flames Field on Chicago’s West Side.

Italo Addimandi (68’) netted his team-high fourth goal of the season in the win, while Tre Barrett (52’), Aaron O’Reilly (59’), Peter Riesz (73’), and Ethan Nakolo (75’) also found the back of the net for the ‘Cats. Northwestern’s five goals were its most in a game since a 5-2 win over Wisconsin on February 23, 2021.

For the second time in three games, the Wildcats piled up six assists, with Yuval Nimrodi coming off the bench to register a pair of helpers.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan makes its way to Evanston at 2-2-2 on the year. The Wolverines, who hold an 0-1-1 record in Big Ten Conference play, earned a valuable road point last Friday, with a Joao Paulo Ramos 63rd-minute penalty kick securing a 1-1 draw against UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif.

Chaka Daley is in his 15th season at the head of the Michigan bench. Only the second head coach in program history, Daley has racked up 118 victories and guided the Wolverines to six trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Grayson Elmquist has emerged as the early focal point of the Michigan attack, having put home a team-high three goals across his five appearances. Elmquist bagged a brace in the Wolverines’ 3-2 win over SIUE on August 30. Ramos, who scored his first goal of the season against UCLA, paces Michigan with three assists, two of which came on August 27 in a 3-1 victory against Niagara.

Daley has turned the reins of the starting goalkeeper job over to Alen Bean. Bean, who did not appear in a game during his first two seasons with the Wolverines, sports a 1.17 goals against average. The junior netminder impressed in his collegiate debut on August 20, stopping five shots in a scoreless stalemate with Loyola Marymount.

SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Michigan will battle for the 41st time on Friday evening along Lake Michigan. The Wolverines, who rallied for a 2-1 win over the Wildcats last season, have won 10 of the last 11 matchups to establish a 24-12-4 (.634) in the all-time series between the two programs.

Michigan’s lone loss in that stretch came in its last visit to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, as a Tyler Glassberg goal in the 23rd minute of play stood up as the game-winner in a 1-0 triumph for the ‘Cats on October 18, 2024.

UP NEXT
Northwestern begins a two-game road swing on Friday, October 2, jetting east to Piscataway, N.J. for a 6 p.m. CT meeting with No. 22 Rutgers at Yurcak Field.