Sept. 19, 2013
| at No. 9 Duke |
|
| Date | Friday, Sept. 20 | 5 p.m. CT |
| Location | Jack Katz Stadium | Durham, N.C. |
| Live Stats | GoDuke.com |
| Watch | GoDuke.com |
| at No. 4 Virginia |
|
| Date | Sunday, Sept. 22 | Noon CT |
| Location | University Hall Turf Field | Charlottesville, Va. |
| Live Stats | |
| Watch | VirginiaSports.com |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 13 Northwestern faces a pair of stiff tests on the road this weekend as it travels to No. 9 Duke on Friday before heading to No. 4 Virginia on Sunday.
Friday's contest gets underway at 5 p.m. Central time, while Sunday's match is slated for a noon CT start.
The Wildcats enter play this weekend on a roll, having won seven consecutive matches since a 2-1 overtime loss in their season-opener at Providence. NU has gotten the job done with defense as it has allowed just six goals through eight games, including just two over the last six.
Northwestern's 0.73 goals-against average ranks second in the nation to only Albany (0.60). Junior Maddy Carpenter has played the entire season in goal so far and has four shutouts to her credit.
The 'Cats are coming off a pair of home wins last weekend, defeating California 2-1 last Friday on Tara Puffenberger's overtime goal before topping Ohio 1-0 on Sunday behind Nikki Parsley's second-half score.
Parsley and Caroline Troncelliti rank tied for third in the Big Ten with five goals and 12 points apiece.
Sunday's contest will be a return to Charlottesville for Puffenberger who played her first two collegiate seasons for Virginia.
Scouting Duke
The Blue Devils (5-1) have posted three straight one-goal victories, including a 1-0 home win over Old Dominion on Sunday thanks to a late goal by Jessica Buttinger. Duke's lone loss is to defending national champion Princeton. Emmie Le Marchand and Heather Morris lead the team with four goals apiece. In goal, Lauren Blazing sports a 0.94 goals-against average with a .800 save percentage.
Scouting Virginia
The Cavaliers take a 7-0 record into their ACC matchup against top-ranked North Carolina on Friday prior to hosting Northwestern. Virginia posted a pair of wins in Burlington, Vt., last weekend, defeating Maine 2-0 before trouncing Vermont 7-0. Elly Buckley leads the way for the Cavaliers with nine goals and four assists while Caleigh Foust has contributed seven goals. Goalkeeper Jenny Johnstone sports a 1.24 goals-against average and a .786 save percentage.
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