Aug. 30, 2001
Evanston, Ill - Head coach Tim Lenahan will make his Wildcat coaching debut this weekend as NU plays host to Loyola on Friday and then opens up the Big Ten schedule at 18th-ranked Ohio State on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. on Friday and noon on Sunday.
Lenahan became only the second head coach in the program's history after he replaced 20-year mentor Michael Kunert last spring. His reputation of turning around programs makes him a good fit for NU, who is coming off a winless season in 2000. In his previous gig at Lafayette, Lenahan took over a faltering 4-12 program and went on to win three straight regular season conference titles in his three years with the Leopards. Lenahan will be assisted by former Colgate assistant Erik Ronning and three-time MLS champion and All-Star Jesse Marsch.
Matt Miclea (Lake Villa, Ill./Antioch Community) will lead the offense for the `Cats this season. Last year, he fired a team-high 29 shots on goal. He will be helped up front by classmate Mike Trudell (Wayzata, Minn./Orono), who appeared in 16 games last season.
Sophomore Adam Grossman (Potomac, Md./Churchill) looks poised to make his first collegiate start in goal on Friday. Grossman pulled away as the frontrunner for the position back in the spring, even though he registered no minutes in goal last season.
With 10 letterwinners back at Lakeside Field this season, Lenahan is hoping that this weekend begins a prosperous era for the `Cats.
"I think we will be a much improved team this year." states Lenahan. "Our work ethic and the team's overall attitude so far in preseason has shown me that the players are committed to moving forward with the program. Starting the season with two defending league champions in Loyola (regular season champions of the Horizon League) and Ohio State (Big 10 Tournament Champions) will let us know right away where we stand."