Sept. 25, 2008
Northwestern Women's Soccer Game Notes 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the second-straight year, Northwestern enters Big Ten season with five wins under its belt. The Wildcats start the Big Ten campaign by welcoming Purdue -- a 20-win team from a year ago and the defending Big Ten Tournament champion -- and 17th-ranked Illinois to Lakeside Field this weekend. NU hosts Purdue at 7 p.m. Friday before taking on Illinois at noon Sunday.
On The Web
Gametracker and live streaming video will be available for both contests.
Scouting Purdue
Purdue sits at 6-3-1 entering the Big Ten season and have out scored opponents, 19-11. Loredana Riverso leads the Boilermakers with four goals. Her 10 points are tied with Kellie Phillips for tops on the team. Phillips has two goals to go with six assists. Jenny Bradfisch has started all 10 games in goal and has a 0.98 GAA. Purdue and Northwestern have both taken on Illinois State and recorded wins. The Boilermakers recorded a 1-1 tie with Louisville who the Wildcats tied in an exhibition contest.
Scouting Illinois
17th-ranked Illinois enters conference season with a 6-3-0 record with all three losses coming on the road. Chichi Nweke leads the Illini with 11 points on four goals and three assists. Her three game-winning goals are also tops on the team. Alexandra Kapicka has started all nine games in goal and has a 0.88 GAA. Illinois has out scored its opponents, 13-8.
Series Information
Illinois leads the all-time series 8-1-3. The Wildcats and Illini battled to a 0-0 tie last year down in Champaign. Purdue leads the all-time series 8-2-0. Purdue topped the Wildcats during the regular season last year and while the `Cats scored in the opening minute of its Big Ten Tournament match against the Boilermakers, Purdue took that meeting by a 3-1 score.
In The Rankings
For the second week in a row, Northwestern is receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches Poll. The `Cats are one of four Big Ten teams to either be ranked or receiving votes. NU is also ranked No. 6 in the Great Lakes region in the latest NSCAA rankings. Last week, NU made its first appearance in the NSCAA rankings since 1999.
Last Time Out
Alicia Herczeg scored late in the second half, but Milwaukee used two first-half goals to defeat the Wildcats Wednesday night, 2-1. Herczeg scored off a Jeanette Lorme rebound at 87:44 for the `Cats' lone goal. The junior paced NU with four shots. Lorme finished the game with two shots on goal. Jenny Dunn and Emily Langston also forced saves by the Panthers' keeper.
Hoffman Wearing A New Hat
Senior Amanda Hoffman entered the season with zero goals and only one assist through three seasons on the Wildcats. She has turned into a major offensive contributor in her senior season and leads the Wildcats in both goals (5) and points (10). Hoffman, who has started all nine games, led the Wildcats back from a 2-0 deficit with a three-goal hat trick against DePaul. The hat trick marked the first for the `Cats since 2004. Hoffman has been economical with her opportunities as well, recording five goals on seven shots on goal.
Lending A Helping Hand
Northwestern has registered 20 assists on 17 total goals this season. All three of Amanda Hoffman's goals came from close range and had two assists each. Sam Greene and Jenny Dunn each have four assists and Alicia Herczeg has three. Herczeg assisted on two of Hoffman's goals against DePaul. Seven other Wildcats have recorded helpers this season.
Distributing the Wealth
Through nine games this season, 12 Wildcats have notched points on 17 total goals. Senior Amanda Hoffman leads the way with 10 points (5g, 0a). Jenny Dunn (2g, 4a) and Sam Greene (2g, 4a) are right behind her with eight points each. Alicia Herczeg has seven (2g, 3a) while Laura Janowitsch (2g, 1a), Emily Langston (2g, 1a) each have five.
Second-Half Firepower
Eleven of NU's 17 goals have been scored after halftime. In the season-opener against Nebraska, the Wildcats put up four goals in route to a 4-3 win at Lakeside Field. NU's lone goal in a 1-0 win over Illinois State in the Lakeside Invitational came early in the second half while all three of NU's goals in a 3-2 overtime win over Pepperdine came after the break. NU registered one second-half goal against Loyola and Amanda Hoffman's hat trick against DePaul featured three second-half goals. Alicia Herczeg's goal against Milwaukee came late in the second half on Wednesday.
For Northwestern's complete weekly game notes, click the .pdf link above.