Oct. 3, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's soccer team has momentum working in its favor.
The Wildcats are 6-1 in their last seven matches, including 2-1 in the Big Ten. They have outscored their opponents 12-5 in that stretch, a number that improved to 12-2 if you discount the lone loss (3-0 to Michigan State).
Last weekend, NU defeated Iowa on the road -- an important key for teams that want to compete in the conference.
All that remains in their minds as they head north for two more Big Ten battles this weekend. Northwestern faces Minnesota Friday night in Minneapolis, then it is on to Wisconsin for a Sunday matinee in Madison.
"We definitely have some momentum going for us as we head out this weekend," said head coach Jenny Haigh. "That is very important, because I really think this year any match can go in any direction in the Big Ten -- I am not sure there is a truly dominant team, but rather a lot of very good ones. But we have confidence and we want to keep getting results."
One reason for the momentum has been the play of NU's three seniors, who coincidentally shore up each part of the field -- Kristen Pearce up front, Aileen Guiney in the midfield and Molly Greene in the back. Greene was the Big Ten's Co-Defensive Player of the Week Monday, while Pearce is tied for the team lead with eight points and has scored in each of the last two matches.
"Molly is the glue for us in the back," said Haigh. "She comes out here every day ready to go, and I have not yet seen someone who can beat her athletically. She can handle anyone in the country, I think, and that takes pressure off our other defenders.
"Up front, when I think of Kristen I just think 'steady,'" Haigh continued. "We can count on her to be great every game, and with her fitness she can pressure hard and make things happen for the entire 90 minutes. She has become a great target player for us and is holding the ball better than ever. She has been a huge plus for us this season."
Friday night, the 'Cats face a Gopher team that will be more familiar to them than any other Big Ten team. That is because Minnesota (4-4-1, 1-3-0) participated in NU's Wildcat Classic a month ago, and the Wildcats got to see them play twice.
"Minnesota is in a situation where they will be doing anything to win," said Haigh, who hails from that area. "I expect them to come out after us and play strong. The Gophers usually draw a good home crowd, and it will be under the lights and that will add to the excitement of this match -- I know our women are very excited to play under the lights. It seems to add energy to you as a player."
Wisconsin (5-5-1, 1-3-0) advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final a year ago, but has struggled to find the goal in the early part of the season -- after opening conference play with a win over Indiana, the Badgers have lost three straight.
However, Haigh -- a former Badger player -- knows better than to overlook this team.
"Wisconsin is a team much better than its record," she said. "I have seen it, and people who have seen them play have seen it. They have some special players out there with a first-team All-Big Ten player up front (Jenny Kundert) and Evanston's Marisa Brown in the midfield. There is talent all over the field. They will be a really tough test for us."
Northwestern Notes
*Minnesota leads the series with NU, 6-4-1. However, the Wildcats have won the last two matches and are 4-3-1 in the last eight meetings with the Gophers. Each of the last two years, NU has earned a 2-1 decision; the 'Cats have won two of the last three times they have played in Minneapolis.
*Wisconsin leads the series with NU, 9-2. However, the teams have split the last two meetings by winning on the road -- Northwestern earned a 1-0 overtime decision in Madison in 2001 to clinch a Big Ten Tournament berth, while Wisconsin took a 2-1 match last year in Evanston.
*The last time Northwestern won two Big Ten matches on the road in the same season was 2001 (ironically, at Minnesota and Wisconsin), and the only other time it happened was 1998. The Wildcats have never won three Big Ten road matches in a season.
*Molly Greene was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. It was the first weekly conference honor for Greene -- a two-time All-Big Ten back -- and the first weekly award for any NU player since GK Susie McCreery shared defensive honors in 2001.