Sept. 9, 2011
Northwestern (0-5-0) at Illinois State (3-2-0)
Sunday, Sept. 11 1 p.m. (CT)
Normal, Ill. Adelaide Street Field
Streaming Video: Wildcats All-Access
Gametracker: NUsports.com
Northwestern Weekly Game Notes (PDF).
The Weekend
After a long road trip to California last weekend, Northwestern won't venture too far from home this week. The Wildcats head down state to face Illinois State University for a Sunday matinee, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. in Normal. Wildcats All-Access subscribers can watch the game live on NUsports.com.
Scouting the Redbirds
Picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference, Illinois State is off to a 3-2 start this season. With three All-MVC players returning from last season, fifth-year head coach Drew Roff has the Redbirds aiming at a second NCAA Tournament appearance. Junior goalkeeper Mara Kremenovic played every minute for ISU in 2010, but has split time this season with Aryn Newsom. Freshman Rachel Tejada leads Illinois State with 20 points (eight goals, four assists) and was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week after posting 10 of those points in the Redbirds' two games last week. ISU is averaging 3.6 goals per game, while allowing opponents to score 2.2 goals.
Series Information
Northwestern holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series between the schools, including a 2-0 victory last season in Evanston. The Wildcats outshot ISU, 14-5, in last year's game. Illinois State won the only previous meeting in Normal, a 2-1 decision played in 2004.
Last Time Out
Sophomore Kate Allen did her part to get the Northwestern offense clicking last Thursday, scoring a pair of goals in the Wildcats' 3-2 loss at Saint Mary's (Calif.). The goals were the first of the season for Allen, who led NU with six tallies in 2010. It also marked the first time a Northwestern player posted a multi-goal effort since Allen did it herself against DePaul in August 2010 -- the first game of her collegiate career. NU couldn't carry the momentum forward, however, as they fell at No. 2 Stanford, 6-0, on Sunday.
Big Ten Network Adds TV Coverage for Northwestern/Nebraska
The Big Ten Network has announced that the Wildcats' Sept. 18 match at Nebraska will be televised by the Network. The noon game will air on tape delay at 3 p.m. that afternoon. It will be the first Big Ten Conference game for Nebraska in any sport.
For more, read the Northwestern Weekly Game Notes (PDF).
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