July 13, 2011
Northwestern's 2011 Women's Soccer Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- One year after taking on a daunting schedule and beating third-ranked UCLA, Northwestern women's soccer will once again face a challenging slate of contests in 2011. Nine opponents who qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championships, the first-ever Big Ten conference game for Nebraska and the return of the Big Ten Women's Soccer tournament highlight the 2011 schedule for the 'Cats.
"Northwestern women's soccer has a tradition of scheduling challenging and exciting competition," said head coach Stephanie Foster. "The 2011 schedule is littered with nationally ranked teams and opponents from top conferences."
The Wildcats will open the 2011 campaign against one such team when they travel to face 2010 NCAA Championship participant Marquette on Aug. 21. NU will host a non-conference tournament for the first time since 2008 in late August, when the Wildcats welcome Cincinnati and Dayton, along with Loyola Chicago, to Lakeside Field.
Following the homestand, Foster will take the 'Cats out west to face St. Mary's and Stanford on Sept. 1 and 4, respectively. The Cardinal finished as national runners-up in 2010.
Northwestern will be the first Big Ten team in any sport to welcome Nebraska to the conference when the Wildcats open conference play in Lincoln on Sept. 18. It is the first meeting between the programs since a 4-3 NU win in 2008. The game is also the first of a strenuous three-game road trip for NU, which will also travel to face Penn State and Ohio State in the stretch.
"No one starts the Big Ten season in more difficult fashion than us," Foster said. "To go on the road against Nebraska, Penn State and 2010 Final Four participant Ohio State will definitely be a challenge. But we have been preparing for this schedule since the end of the 2010 season and we can not wait to get after this line-up of teams."
After home games against Purdue and Indiana, Northwestern will play four straight matches against Big Ten schools that qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championships, beginning at Michigan on Oct. 8.
Lakeside Field will play host to the conference's best teams Nov. 2-6 as the 2011 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament is held in Evanston. The tournament returns to the Big Ten schedule after a two-year hiatus.
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