Oct. 14, 2010
Northwestern (10-4, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 12 Michigan (9-5, 3-0 Big Ten)
Friday, Oct. 15
Phyllis Ocker Field
Ann Arbor, Mich. 3 p.m. CT
Northwestern (10-4, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 7 Michigan State (11-3, 1-2 Big Ten)
Sunday, Oct. 17
Ralph Young Field
East Lansing, Mich. 11 a.m. CT
Live Stats link
Northwestern Weekly Release -- Oct. 14 
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Standing 10-4 overall and with a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten for the first time since 1994, Northwestern continues its quest for a conference championship Friday when it takes on first-place and 12th-ranked Michigan (9-5, 3-0). On Sunday, NU remains on the road to face No. 7 Michigan State in a game that will not count toward the Big Ten standings.
Game time Friday at Michigan is set for 3 p.m. CT while the opening draw against the Spartans is slated for 11 a.m. Sunday. Links to live stats are available at the top of the page.
Familiar Faces
Friday marks the first time that Tracey Fuchs will be returning to her old stomping grounds as head coach of the Wildcats. Fuchs, now 22-12 at Northwestern, spent 12 seasons at Michigan as an assistant and associate head coach to Marcia Pankratz, helping the Wolverines to six NCAA tournaments, three Big Ten Tournament titles and the 2001 NCAA championship. While in Ann Arbor, Fuchs coached alongside current NU associate head coach Carla Tagliente and also mentored current NU assistant April Fronzoni Bertin to two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Awards.
The Wildcats also have two Ann Arbor natives on their roster: senior Zoe Almquist and freshman Kelsey Thompson.
Wildcats Halt the Hoosiers
Sporting pink uniforms in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Northwestern received two first-half goals from Chelsea Armstrong and a pair of second-half scores by Sarah Marcincin to down Indiana, 4-2, Friday at Lakeside Field. Marcincin's goals both came when the senior defender slammed home rebounds off the pads of IU goalkeeper Becky Pany during penalty corners. NU controlled the action all day, outshooting the Hoosiers 21-4 and drawing 14 corners to Indiana's four.
Armstrong Climbs NU Scoring Ranks
Northwestern's Chelsea Armstrong continued her record-setting scoring pace last week, tying a career high with nine points (4g, 1a) against UC Davis and following that effort with two first-half goals vs. Indiana. Armstrong, who has comfortable leads in the Big Ten rankings for points (49) and goals (19), is tied for sixth place on NU's career lists in both categories (105 points, 41 goals). She is currently third nationally in points per game (3.50) and goals per game (1.36).
Series Notes
This weekend, Northwestern will be out to end a pair of losing skids against both Big Ten opponents, having not beaten U of M since 1996 and Michigan State since 2006. The Wildcats still lead in both all-time series, however: 28-19 over Michigan and 30-20 over the Spartans.
Shutting Things Down
One of Northwestern's most reliable performers and leaders this season has been senior defender Sarah Marcincin, a three-year starter for the Wildcats. Along with goalkeeper Amanda Wirth, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten in saves, Marcincin is the driving force on an NU defense that hasn't allowed more than two goals in a game since Sept. 3.
Jamieson's Journal
In the latest installment of Jamieson's Journal, Megan Jamieson discusses the team as it enters a showdown between Big Ten unbeatens against Michigan, her own sibling rivalry that will take place Sunday against Michigan State and NU's midweek chocolate chip cookie bake-off. Watch Megan's video blog by clicking here.
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