Megan Jamieson is one of eight seniors looking to lead NU to its first Big Ten championship since 1995.Megan Jamieson is one of eight seniors looking to lead NU to its first Big Ten championship since 1995.

'Cats Aim to Stake Claim for Big Ten Title vs. Nittany Lions, Spartans

Oct. 27, 2010

Northwestern (11-6, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 9 Penn State (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten)
Friday, Oct. 29
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill. • 3 p.m.
In-game Twitter: @NU_SportsLIVE

Northwestern (11-6, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 11 Michigan State (13-4, 2-3 Big Ten)
Sunday, Oct. 31
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill. • Noon
In-game Twitter: @NU_SportsLIVE
TV: Big Ten Network (Announcers: Dan Kelly, Kara Lentz)

Northwestern Weekly Release -- Oct. 27 Get Acrobat Reader

EVANSTON, Ill. -- As it often is, the 2010 Big Ten Field Hockey champion will be decided on the final weekend of the regular season, with three teams entering play with one conference loss. At 3-1 in the league and 11-6 overall, NU can assure itself at least a share of its first Big Ten title since 1994 with victories over No. 9 Penn State Friday and No. 11 Michigan State Sunday on the Big Ten Network.

Be sure to arrive early for Sunday's matchup vs. Michigan State as Northwestern will be honoring its eight seniors who are playing their final home regular-season contest. All home Northwestern field hockey games offer free parking and admission.

That group of seniors -- which over the last two seasons has helped NU achieve its first national ranking since 2005, its highest win total since 1995 (12 in 2009) and its most Big Ten victories since 1997 (three) -- includes: Zoe Almquist, Megan Jamieson, Katie Lynch, Sarah Marcincin, Marnie Robbins, Olivia Standa, Kendra Sirak and Stacy Uchida.

Sunday Grudge Match
• This is the second meeting in two weeks for Northwestern and Michigan State after they met in what was officially a nonconference match on Oct. 17 in East Lansing. Playing without the services of leading scorer Chelsea Armstrong because of injury, NU held a 1-0 halftime lead on the Spartans and found itself tied at one in the game's waning minutes. But MSU's Amanda Huck deflected in a goal with under three minutes to play as host Sparty escaped with a 2-1 victory. Their rematch Sunday will be aired live by the Big Ten Network.

Armstrong Continues Scoring Streak
• Northwestern's Chelsea Armstrong has posted one of the most prolific seasons by any player in NCAA field hockey this season, ranking second nationally in goals per game (1.44) and third in points per outing (3.56). At the conference level, she leads the Big Ten in total points (57) and goals (23). Through just 36 career games played, Armstrong owns sole possession of fifth place on NU's career lists in both categories (113 points, 45 goals). She is currently third nationally in points per game (3.27) and goals per game (1.27).

• A 2009 first-team All-Big Ten selection, Armstrong is the current Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week--her fourth such honor this season--after scoring all four of NU's goals in a 4-2 win at Iowa on Oct. 24. It was her second four-goal effort this season after her career-high-tying nine-point performance (4g, 1a) vs. UC Davis.

Series Notes
• Northwestern and Penn State last met in 2009 when NU notched a dramatic 3-2 win in State College, the Wildcats' first win over the Nittany Lions since 1997. PSU, however, still owns a 24-4-1 all-time lead in the series.

Northwestern boasts a 30-21 lead in the all-time series against Michigan State. NU's last win over MSU came in a 3-2 overtime victory on Sept. 30, 2006, in Evanston.

Stacking Up the 'Cats
• Taking a glance at the NCAA field hockey statistics through last weekend's games, NU has distinguished itself on the offensive end of the pitch. The Wildcats rank 10th nationally in goals per game with 3.33, just a shade behind their 2009 season average of 3.35 goals per contest. In 2008, the season before Fuchs' arrival in Evanston, the 'Cats averaged only 2.20 goals per game. This year, NU also checks in at No. 5 in the nation with 2.94 assists per game.

Spreading the Wealth
• Northwestern has received offensive contributions from a plethora of sources in 2010, with 13 Wildcats having scored at least one goal, including four first-time goal scorers. On top of that, Stacy Uchida has recorded 11 assists--good for fourth in the Big Ten--but is still in search of the first goal of her senior campaign. A year ago, 12 NU players made their way into the scoring column.

Looking Ahead
• Although Sunday will mark the final regular-season outing for NU's eight seniors, they are guaranteed at least one more opportunity to play at Lakeside Field. Northwestern is set to host the 2010 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament, which gets underway Thursday, Nov. 4. The semifinal matches will be played Friday, Nov. 5, while the championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 7. Tickets are available as day passes all three days of competition for $7 (adults) and $5 (senior citizens, students, youth).

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