September 1, 1998
The 1998 Northwestern field hockey season opens this Saturday when the 'Cats travel to St. Louis for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge. NU will face Wake Forest on Sept. 5 followed by top-ranked Virginia on Mon., Sept. 7. The Wildcats' 1998 home opener is set for Sept. 10 vs. 15th-ranked Kent State.
Welcome Home
Four Wildcats hail from the greater St. Louis area. Junior Ryann Carmody and sophomore Jodie Condie (St. Louis) along with fifth-year senior Shannon West (St. Charles) attended Villa Duchesne. Sophomore Colleen Hotz, also a St. Louis native, went to Cor Jesu Academy.Wildcat Reunion
The NU-Wake Forest matchup pits the current Wildcats against one of the school's all-time greats. Current Demon Deacon head coach Jennifer Averill played at NU from 1983-86, winning the Honda Broderick Cup as a senior.Shanel No. 5
NU's backfield is anchored by two-time All-Big Ten sweeper Shanel Gohsler (San Diego, Calif./Serra). Last season as a junior, she led the team in scoring with 24 points, including a team-high 11 goals. Gohsler, who wears jersey No. 5, has started every game in her three-year NU career (60).Yates in the Cage
Junior Jessica Yates (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) will hold down the starting spot at goalkeeper for the second-straight season. A member of the U.S. National Under-23 Team, Yates posted three shutouts in 19 starts last year for the Wildcats, posting a 1.81 goals against average.Quick Hits
NU returns 68 percent of its total offense from last season, but returns 73 percent of its goal scoring.The Wildcats return two of their three All-Big Ten performers from a year ago: Gohsler and second-team all-conference forward Wendy DeFord.