Sept. 15, 2011
Northwestern (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) vs No. 11 California (5-0, 0-0 NorPac)
Friday, Sept. 16
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill. 1 p.m. CT
Northwestern (5-2, 0-0) vs No. 18 Virginia (4-3, 0-0 ACC)
Sunday, Sept. 18
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill. 1 p.m. CT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After playing their first five of seven games on the road, the Wildcats return home to Lakeside Field, but not without a challenge awaiting them. Northwestern welcomes a pair of of top-20 non conference foes in No. 11 California and No. 18 Virginia as they make their way to Chicagoland for the weekend. The 'Cats will take on the Golden Bears at 1 p.m. on Friday followed by the Cavaliers at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Cal and Virginia will square off by the lake at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Armstrong Watch
Sporting eight goals and two assists on the year, junior Chelsea Armstrong leads the Wildcats with 18 total points. Totaling 54 goals in her career, she stands alone in second place all-time in NU program history, a mere five goals behind Nancy Fisher's 19-year record. Armstrong also has racked up 134 career points, leaving her five points shy Sannie Van Dijck's school record. Proving her offensive prowess on the pitch, Armstrong is now also tied in seventh place in NU history for career assists with 26.
Second-Half Hot Shots
Northwestern has played with a steady consistency throughout the young season, but the 'Cats have really stepped up when the game matters most: the second half. Out of 16 goals scored for Northwestern this year, nine -- to their opponents' four -- have come in the second stanza. NU has compiled 61 of their 104 shots and has taken 34 of 51 total corners -- 67-percent -- after halftime.
More Than Just a Supporting Role
Northwestern has leaned on Armstrong for her play-making ability on offense, but more than a few other 'Cats have stepped up to contribute in big ways as well. On offense, Regan Mooney has tripled her career assist total, compiling six this season, for an average of nearly one per game. The senior also is tied for second on the team with three goals, including one game-winner. Tied alongside Mooney with three goals is Nikki Parsley. The sophomore, who has started every game in her career, has stepped in this season as an offensive option in a balanced attack. Her six points thus far is good enough for third on the team.
On the defensive side of the pitch, a couple of freshmen are really making their mark. Maddy Carpenter has accumulated 29 saves in six starts this year, singlehandedly placing Northwestern atop the Big Ten in fewest goals allowed (eight) and fewest goals allowed per game (1.14). Northwestern is second in the conference with 40 total saves, and Carpenter's 29 saves are, by herself, more than what five Big Ten teams have accrued as a squad.
In front of Carpenter stands a sturdy defensive squad with eight team saves, five more than any other conference opponent. To give perspective, Kelsey Thompson's four defensive saves are more than what any other Big Ten team has as a unit.
Scouting the Golden Bears
Cal comes to Evanston with an unblemished 5-0 record, surging in the polls from unranked to 11th in just one week's time. Four of five Golden Bear wins have come against ranked opponents this season, making for the tried and true NorPac squad. Cal is led on offense by sophomore Andrea Earle and senior Megan Shimojima, who are in the top-10 among all NCAA Division I players with 1.20 goals per game. As a team, Cal is fourth in the nation with an average of 4.70 goals per outing.
Cal and Northwestern first met in 1981, and the Wildcats hold the series lead, 6-4-1. The Golden Bears were victorious the last time the two met, coming away with a 5-0 win in Evanston in 2008.
Scouting the Cavaliers
The Cavaliers arrive to the shores of Lake Michigan with a 4-3 record, ranked 18th in the country. In the midst of a seven-game road swing, Virginia is most recently coming off a 3-0 loss to Michigan State on Saturday. As a team, UVA is led on offense by sophomore Elly Buckley who has amassed four goals and an assist for a team-high nine points. In the cage for the Cavaliers sits a tough freshman in Jenny Johnstone who has a team-high 20 saves.
UVA holds the advantage in the series with NU, 6-2, most recently edging the 'Cats, 2-0, at home a year ago.
Up Next
In the coming weeks, Northwestern will travel to Bloomington, Ind., on Sept. 23 for its conference opener against the Hoosiers, then will swing down to Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 24 to take on New Hampshire before returning to Evanston on Sept. 27 to face Saint Louis. The rest of the Big Ten slate for the 'Cats will begin with a trip to Michigan State following the Saint Louis bout.
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