Oct. 29, 2010
Northwestern (8-5-2, 2-1-1 Big Ten) at #25 Indiana (8-5-2, 3-0-1)
Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010
Bill Armstrong Stadium
Bloomington, Ind. 4 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network (Dan Kelly and Daryl Shore)
Gametracker: NUsports.com
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- A shot at the first Big Ten title in program history is on the line for Northwestern on Sunday as it travels to Indiana. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Central time with Big Ten Network providing live television coverage.
The Hoosiers enter the contest at 3-0-1 in league play, while the Wildcats are one game back at 2-1-1 with only one match remaining following Sunday's contest. NU hosts Michigan in its finale Nov. 6, while Indiana travels to Ohio State the following day.
Northwestern is coming off a wild 4-3 overtime victory at Wisconsin last Saturday evening. Senior Jack Hillgard's goal from approximately 70 yards out four minutes and 10 seconds into the first extra session gave the Wildcats the win. Matt Eliason tied the match on a penalty kick goal with 1:14 remaining in regulation.
NU led 2-1 with seven minutes left in the second half before Chris Prince scored two goals over a two-minute span to put the Badgers up 3-2 with five minutes to go. However, the 'Cats drew a foul in the box and Eliason tied the game on the ensuing PK before Hillgard won it when his long punt bounced at the top of the 18 and over the UW keeper for the game-winning goal. The win improved the 'Cats to 5-1-1 in their last seven matches and the victory was No. 100 for head coach Tim Lenahan at Northwestern.
Scouting Indiana
The Hoosiers (8-5-2, 3-0-1 Big Ten) are coming off a 4-1 home loss to Butler on Wednesday despite Will Bruin's 13th goal of the season. It was the fifth ranked opponent Indiana has faced in its last six matches. Andy Adlard has a team-best six assists to go along with five goals. In goal, Luis Soffner sports a 1.20 goals-against average and a .646 save percentage. Todd Yeagley is in his first season as IU's head coach.
Last Meeting
Northwestern and Indiana matched up on the Big Ten Network a year ago as well with the Wildcats posting a 2-0 win Oct. 25 in Evanston. Matt Eliason and Oliver Kupe notched goals for NU.
Kupe's Contributions
Junior forward Oliver Kupe has established himself as one of the top offensive threats in the Big Ten. His seven goals so far this season lead the Wildcats. A year ago, Kupe tied for the conference lead with seven assists. He notched his second career two-goal game Sept. 10 in a 4-0 win over Cleveland State en route to being named the MVP of the NIU adidas/Magnuson Inn Invitational.
Preseason Accolades
Forward Matt Eliason has been recognized by multiple organizations as he competes in his final season at Northwestern. The Lombard, Ill., native was a preseason second-team All-America selection of College Soccer News and was 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.
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. His penalty kick goal late in regulation against Wisconsin Oct. 23 moved him into a tie for first place all-time at Northwestern with 80 career points, matching 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 100-74-24 record at Northwestern and is 226-142-42 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.
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 taken over. His 0.84 goals-against average ranks second in the Big Ten, while his .796 save percentage ranks third. Kotler has four shutouts this season and recorded a career-high 11 saves against Notre Dame Sept. 29.
Youth is Being Served
The 'Cats have started as many as five freshmen at the same time this year. Layth Masri, Lepe Seetane and Reed Losee have appeared in all 15 matches, while Scott Lakin has played in 14 and Connor Holloway 13. Losee has two goals and is third on the team lead with three assists. Seetane has notched two goals and an assist, while Masri has contributed a goal and two assists. Lakin has one helper to his credit.
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 46 career victories to their credit, six shy of the top mark in school history of 52 wins set by last year's squad.
Wildcats Picked Third in Big Ten Preseason Poll
Northwestern was tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten this season in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. Defending champ Ohio State was 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.
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.
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