November 20, 1998
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's soccer team enters the third round of the NCAA Championships having won six of its last seven contests. The team's record of 16-4-1 is its best ever, eclipsing last year's mark (12-7-1). For the first time in the sport's five-year history at NU, the Cats finished the regular season undefeated in nonconference games (8-0-1) and at home (8-0-1). Their nine-game winning streak from Sept. 6 to Oct. 2 also set a school record.
Northwestern, Georgia and BYU were the only teams who did not receive a first-round bye to survive last weekend's second round. Northwestern is the only school still alive who played its first two matches on the road. Out of the 16 teams remaining in the tournament field, Northwestern is one of only two not ranked in the top 16 in the latest NSCAA poll. Unranked Georgia has upset No. 19 Wake Forest and No. 15 Virginia in the tournament's first two rounds. No. 11 Vanderbilt, the highest-ranking team not still playing, lost to No. 12 Clemson in the second round.
Florida rides an 11-game unbeaten streak, the fourth-best in the country, into todays match. Playing in only its fourth season at the varsity level, Florida has compiled a 78-11-3 all-time record (21-2-1 SEC). The Gators title game win over Vanderbilt gave them their third consecutive conference championship. Florida entered the 1998 season with a No. 5 NSCAA preseason ranking, its highest yet. This season the team has lost only to No. 1 North Carolina (2-1 in overtime Oct. 11), and has since improved to a No. 3 ranking and earning a No. 2 tournament seed.
Senior forward Danielle Fotopoulos scored her 30th goal of the season in the teams 5-1 second-round win against James Madison. Fotopoulos leads the nation in goals (30) and points (69) after redshirting with a torn ACL in 1997. The two-time All-American has scored nine goals as a member of the U.S. National Team, and this season moved atop the all-time NCAA list for career goals (101). She is tied for the NCAA career points mark (278). The Gators other threat up front is freshman forward Abby Wambach, the 1997 NSCAA/UMBRO National Player of the Year in high school, who has 19 goals and 11 assists.
The Gators goalkeeper, senior Meredith Flaherty, is 16th in the nation in goals against average at 0.73/game. Senior midfielder Erin Baxter, whom Coach Becky Burleigh calls the heart and soul of the team, is a two-time returning All-American. As a team, Florida is third in the nation in scoring offense and 12th in scoring defense.
Florida's Percy Beard Stadium has a capacity of 4,500. In 1998, the Gators have averaged 1,881 for their home matches, including 2,831 for the home opener Sept. 11 against Tennessee. The teams 1995 opener drew 4,442. Florida was among the nation's top three schools in attendance in each of its first three seasons.
The winner of Sunday's match will play the winner of the match between No. 10 Penn State, the 7th seed, and No. 12 Clemson.
The Wildcats and Gators have never met. The Cats are 1-1 in school history vs. SEC teams. Both games were played vs. Kentucky, the last a 2-0 NU win on Oct. 31, 1997. Florida won the only match it has played against a Big Ten school, a 3-1 decision over Penn State in its last regular season game this season (Nov. 1 at Florida).
NU and Florida had two common opponents this season, with each defeating SMU and Penn State. See results below:
NU vs. UF vs Southern Methodist W, 3-2 W, 2-1 (OT) #10 Penn State W, 1-0 W, 3-1