Aug. 26, 2009
Women's Soccer Game Notes (Week 2) 
Wildcat Weekly Word (8/25/09)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern continues a three-game, non-conference road trip this weekend as the 'Cats (0-1-1) head to the Show-Me State. NU will take on 22nd-ranked Missouri (1-0-0) at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saint Louis (0-1-0) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
On the Web
Gametracker will be available for both this weekend's matches. In addition, Twitter users can follow @NU_SportsLIVE for exclusive in-game updates during both contests.
Scouting the Tigers
No. 22 Missouri enters Friday's match with a 1-0 record after beating Iowa last weekend. The Tigers scored a pair of goals in the final five minutes to rally for a 3-2 win in Iowa City. With eight starters returning from last season's 16-5-2 squad, Missouri was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 title. Senior goalkeeper Tasha Dittamore posted a school-record 10 shutouts last season, while junior forward Alysha Bonnick led the team in scoring with 26 points (11 goals and four assists) and has been named to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Scouting the Billikens
Saint Louis is 0-1 entering Sunday after dropping its opener at Vanderbilt, 2-1. With 13 seniors in 2009, Saint Louis has as much experience on its roster as anyone in the country. The Billikens had the Atlantic 10 Conference's top defense in 2008, allowing just 17 goals in 21 games. Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Perry posted a 0.78 GAA and 10 shutouts and is a big reason why Saint Louis was picked to finish third in the A-10 preseason poll this year.
Series Information
Northwestern trails its all-time series with Missouri, 3-2, and has a 0-0-1 mark in its series with Saint Louis. The last time NU and Missouri met was 2006, when the Tigers came away with a 4-0 victory in Evanston. The 'Cats haven't won in Columbia since a 4-2 victory in 1996. Meanwhile NU faced the Billikens for the first time last season, with the sides battling to a 0-0, double-overtime tie at Lakeside Field.
Last Time Out
The Wildcats allowed three goals in an 18-minute stretch of the first half Aug. 23 in a 3-2 loss at DePaul. Alicia Herczeg scored in the fourth minute to give NU a 1-0 lead and Kay Sampson pulled the 'Cats back within a goal by scoring on a header off a corner kick in the 48th.
On Aug. 21 Northwestern played the earliest regular season match in school history, battling Milwaukee to a 0-0, two overtime draw. Junior goalkeeper Carolyn Edwards made three saves - including a game-saving stop with 15 seconds left in regulation. Sam Greene was awarded a penalty kick in the second overtime but sent it off the crossbar.
Immediate Impact
Six newcomers to the Northwestern program have already seen game action this season, including five freshmen. Catherine Parish and Briana Westlund have started both of NU's first two games, as has sophomore transfer Caroline Dagley. Freshman Kendall Thoreson has made one start and appeared in both games, while Meredith Finsand and Jessica Rubin have also logged game action for the 'Cats.
A Tough Road Ahead
Missouri is the second of eight 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifiers that the Wildcats will face this season, making the `09 campaign one of the most daunting in school history. After the Tigers, NU has upcoming matches against BYU, Notre Dame and the four Big Ten members that participated in last year's postseason (Illinois, Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State). To date Northwestern is 0-0-1 against last year's tournament teams, following a tie with Milwaukee.
For Northwestern's complete game notes, click on the PDF link at the top of the page.