Aug. 24, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 14 Northwestern will be put to the test in its final two exhibition contests this weekend as the Wildcats travel to No. 22 Saint Louis on Saturday night before heading to South Bend, Ind., to take on 10th-ranked Notre Dame on Monday. Saturday's game will feature live scoring on NUsports.com's Gametracker. Free All-Access video courtesy of CSTV also is available at SLUBillikens.com.
The last time Northwestern and Saint Louis met, the Wildcats were the heavy underdogs in the second round of last year's NCAA Tournament. But with momentum and fate on their side, the Wildcats stunned the Billikens on their home turf 1-0 on a goal by St. Louis-native David Roth. The Billikens are one of the most storied programs in Division I soccer, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament a record 43 times in the 48-year history of the event. SLU junior midfielder Eric Sweetin is among 25 players on the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List and is a College Soccer News preseason second-team All-American.
Notre Dame posted a 15-6-2 record last season and, like Northwestern, advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The Irish return six starters and 14 letterwinners, including the 2006 Hermann Trophy winner Joseph Lapira. Lapira, who led the nation with 22 goals and 50 points in '06, also was named the 2006 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year.
In its first exhibition outing on Sunday, NU handed Marquette a 3-0 loss on a wet and soggy Lakeside field. Wildcat starters played the first 60 minutes while receiving goals from Matt Witt, Brian Usinger and Carl Pett -- all coming off headers. Northwestern's No. 1 defense held the Marquette attackers at bay, allowing just three shots in the first two periods. All 26 players saw action, with starting goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal and Will Briley each getting at least 30 minutes in goal.
Cats Among National Leaders in Preseason Rankings, Recruiting
Northwestern begins the season ranked No. 14 in the NSCAA/adidas poll and No. 20 in the preseason College Soccer News top 30 poll. And for the second-straight year, head coach Tim Lenahan's incoming class is ranked 21st overall. The Wildcats are one of only two Big Ten programs ranked. This marks the second time in three years the Wildcats have been in the national rankings after starting the 2005 campaign ranked 17th. Ditto for the recruiting classes as the Wildcats also are one of only two conference teams ranked in the top 35.
Roth Named to Hermann Trophy Watch List, Preseason All-American
David Roth is one of 29 players nationwide named to the 2007 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List, the most prestigious individual award in intercollegiate soccer. The trophy is awarded annually to the top male and female Division I soccer players in the country and is the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Player of the Year award for Division I competition. He also was recently named a second-team preseason All-American by College Soccer News.
A two-time All-Big Ten selection and a freshman All-Big Ten pick in 2004, Roth helped the Wildcats to their best season in school history last year as Northwestern came within one win of advancing to the NCAA College Cup. He was one of 11 players named to the 2006 Soccer America Men's College MVP team, which is the equivalent of a first-team All-America honor. The St. Louis native led the Wildcats with 21 points last season on eight goals--four of those game-winners--and five assists. He finished second in the Big Ten in points per game and fourth in goals and assists per game. His biggest goal of the season came in the upset win at perennial NCAA power Saint Louis in the second round of the NCAA Tournament as the Wildcats prevailed 1-0. Roth, one of two Big Ten players to make the list, is already Northwestern's all-time leader with 25 assists and is tied for seventh with 51 total points entering his senior year.
NU Tabbed Second in Preseason Big Ten Poll
The Big Ten coaches have picked Northwestern second in the 2007 preseason Big Ten poll--its highest preseason ranking ever after being picked third in 2005. Indiana is the favorite to win the league. Ohio State and Penn State were picked third and fourth, respectively, followed by Wisconsin, Michigan State and Michigan.
For the complete release click the PDF link above