By: Jasper Scherer
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The Northwestern women's soccer team begins a stretch of five home games over its final seven regular season matches by welcoming the Illinois Fighting Illini to Lakeside Field on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Northwestern's defense has limited opponents to 14 goals in 12 games this season and has stepped up against top opponents like then-No. 15 Marquette, whom Northwestern beat on Aug. 24 in a 1-0 shutout. Freshman goalkeeper and recent Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Lauren Clem is also coming off a strong performance against Ohio State on Sunday, when she recorded seven saves and constantly snuffed out promising Buckeye attacks.
Sophomore forward Addie Steiner leads the 'Cats offense, and she'll look to add to her team-leading six goals against an Illinois defense that allowed a pair of second-half goals to No. 8 Penn State in its most recent match. Steiner has scored in three of NU's four wins this season.
Steiner is joined on the attack by freshman forward Michelle Manning, who netted her first career goal against Ohio State on Sunday, and Sami Schrakamp, a senior midfielder/forward who has scored twice in the last six matches. Sophomore midfielder Rachel Zampa has also been a key player on offense, scoring a recent goal against the Nittany Lions on Sept. 26 and providing valuable minutes off the bench. Upperclassmen Katie Landgrebe and Jennifer Korn recorded assists against Penn State and Ohio State, respectively, and coach Michael Moynihan will ask them to continue their strong play on Sunday against Illinois.
The 'Cats, looking for their first win in conference play, will be tasked with stopping Illinois forward Jannelle Flaws. The redshirt senior from Glenview, Ill., has picked up right where she left off last season, scoring 14 goals in 12 matches one year after tying for the Division-I lead in goals.
The Illini defense has been tough this season, surrendering 10 goals while the team has scored 26 themselves. They've been particularly stingy in the first half, allowing only four goals all season in that period, though each of Northwestern's last two goals have come after halftime.
Illinois' sophomore goalkeeper Claire Wheatley has played a large role in that success. She has recorded four shutouts by herself while teaming up with fellow goalie Michelle Denley for two more. Since taking over the starting role from Denley, Wheatley has posted a 7-2-0 record and owns a 0.76 goals against average.
Illinois has taken three of the past four matches against Northwestern, including the Wildcats' 3-1 loss at Lakeside Field last year.
Tickets are available at the entrance to Lakeside Field. A ticket purchased Sunday will be good for both the men's soccer match against 2013 NCAA runner-up Maryland at noon and the women's contest against Illinois at 5pm.
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