Sept. 24, 2010
Northwestern (3-3-0) at #15 Michigan State (6-1-0)
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010
DeMartin Soccer Complex
East Lansing, Mich. Noon CT
TV: Big Ten Network (Dean Linke and Seth Kesler)
Same-day delay at 4 p.m. CT
Gametracker: NUsports.com
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern kicks off its 2010 conference season this Sunday as it travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take on No. 15 Michigan State. The contest gets underway at noon CT with Big Ten Network televising the contest on a same-day delay basis at 4 p.m.
Northwestern went 1-1 at its own Lakeside Classic last weekend, defeating Gonzaga 2-0 on Friday before falling 1-0 to Holy Cross on Sunday. Oliver Kupe and Jack Hillgard netted goals in the Wildcats' victory while Piero Bellizzi assisted on both scores. Drew Kotler made three saves to earn his second shutout of the season.
NU dominated play in Sunday's match against Holy Cross, holding an 18-2 edge in shots, but an own goal 15 minutes into the second half proved to be the difference. Bellizzi and Hillgard were named to the all-tournament team for Northwestern.
Scouting Michigan State
The Spartans (6-1-0) have won five straight contests, including posting a 2-1 victory at Duquesne on Wednesday. Domenic Barone (4g, 1a) and Spencer Thompson (2g, 5a) lead Michigan State with 9 points apiece. Cyrus Saydee ranks second in the league with 6 assists. Reigning first-team All-Big Ten selection Avery Steinlage is in his third season as a starter in goal and sports a 1.20 goals-against average this year. Damon Rensing is in his second season as the head coach of the Spartans after previously serving on staff as an assistant for 10 years at his alma mater.
Kotler Steps In
NU's goalkeepers in 2010 have some big shoes to fill as they replace the graduated Misha Rosenthal, the school's all-time leader with 29 shutouts. After starting the first two matches on the bench, junior Drew Kotler has admirably stepped up. Since stepping in to begin the second half of the Wildcats' second match, Kotler has allowed just two goals (including one own goal) in 405 minutes of action. His 0.44 goals-against average ranks first in the Big Ten, while his .867 save percentage narrowly ranks second. Kotler has posted shutouts in two of his first four starts.
Preseason Accolades
Senior forward Matt Eliason has been recognized by multiple organizations as he competes in his final season at Northwestern. The Lombard, Ill., native is a preseason second-team All-America selection of College Soccer News and is one of 39 individuals named to the watch list for the Hermann Trophy which honors the nation's top collegiate soccer player. He has also been named a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award which recognizes senior student-athletes for their contributions both on and off the field. Northwestern has two other individuals who are returning award winners. Defender Chris Ritter and midfielder Kyle Schickel were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team last season, while Schickel was an honorable mention pick to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team.
Eliason's Stellar Career
Matt Eliason has earned his preseason recognition based on what he has accomplished over his first three seasons at Northwestern. A two-time All-Big Ten first team and the All-Great Lakes Region second team selection, he surpassed Jonathan Hall (1986-89) for first in school history with his 31st career goal against Oregon State Sept. 12. Eliason's 13 goals last season led the Big Ten. He also ranks third all-time at Northwestern with 73 career points, 7 behind career leaders Hall and Gerardo Alvarez (2003-06). Eliason has also gotten the job done in the classroom as he was named an ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar a year ago.
Head Coach Tim Lenahan
Tim Lenahan is in his 10th season at the helm at Northwestern as the architect of a program that has undergone a metamorphosis from an also-ran to a national power. He inherited a program that had won a total of four Big Ten matches in the 10 years prior to his arrival and turned it into one that has reached the NCAA tournament in five of the last six seasons. The team has advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal round two of the last four years. Lenahan has an 95-71-23 record at Northwestern and is 221-139-41 mark in 21 seasons overall as a head coach. A 1983 graduate of Richard Stockton College, Lenahan coached for eight seasons at his alma mater and for three more at Lafayette before coming to Evanston.
The Drive for Five
Last year's senior class at Northwestern accomplished something no other class in school history had done--reach the NCAA tournament each year of their collegiate careers. The Wildcats are seeking their fifth straight NCAA appearance in 2010. All five of Northwestern's NCAA tournament appearances have come in the last six seasons (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). This year's group of seniors has 41 career victories to their credit, 11 shy of the school history of 52 wins set by last year's squad.
Wildcats Picked Third in Big Ten Preseason Poll
Northwestern has been tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten this season in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. Defending champ Ohio State is the coaches' choice to remain atop the Big Ten, followed by Indiana. Penn State tied the Wildcats for third place, followed by Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively. The second-place finish by the Wildcats' a year ago was the best in program history. NU's 3-2-1 mark against conference foes matched the 2004 and 2007 teams for the program's best Big Ten record in a season.
Kupe's Contributions
Senior forward Oliver Kupe has established himself as one of the top table-setters in the Big Ten. A year ago, Kupe tied for the conference lead with seven assists. Kupe contributed his first helper of the season Sept. 5 on Reed Losee's goal against Saint Mary's (Calif.). He also shown the ability to find the back of the net himself as he notched his second career two-goal game last Friday in a 4-0 win over Cleveland State en route to being named the MVP of the NIU adidas/Magnuson Inn Invitational. Kupe's three goals so far this season lead the Wildcats.
Jones Joins Coaching Staff
Neil Jones has joined the Wildcats' coaching staff this season, replacing Andy Fleming who left to become the head coach at Xavier. A 2004 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Jones spent the last four years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, including helping the Gauchos to the 2006 national championship. A four-year starter at UCSB, Jones amassed 28 goals and 16 assists during his career. A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Jones has also spent time competing at the national level as a member of New Zealand's National Team. He earned his first two full international caps playing for New Zealand's World Cup squad and scored two goals in the Kiwi's win over Tahiti during the OFC Nation's Cup. Jones also played in the U-17 World Cup Finals with the national team.
Up Next...
Northwestern returns to action Wednesday as it takes on Notre Dame in Bridgeview, Ill., at Toyota Park, the home of the Chicago Fire of the MLS. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The match is being streamed live at TopDrawerSoccer.com.