| #3 Northwestern (4-1-3) vs. # 6 Indiana (3-3-2) |
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| Date | Sunday, Nov. 9 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Social Media | @NUMensSoccer  | Facebook  |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern will open the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 12 p.m. when they welcome the sixth-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, the nation's top-ranked team, to Lakeside Field.
After a 2-0 win on Wednesday night in Evanston to wrap up the regular-season, the Wildcats closed the Big Ten season on a 4-0-1 run to finish one point away from a regular-season title, and earned the No. 3 seed in the Conference Tournament. For their reward, the Wildcats will welcome perennial national power Indiana, who this week was ranked No. 1 in the nation in the TopDrawerSoccer Composite Rankings, which combine the five weekly national polls.
Wednesday's win over Wisconsin in the regular-season finale was led by junior forward Joey Calistri's two goals, his team-leading fifth and sixth markers of the 2014 campaign. The Deerfield, Illinois, native now ranks fifth in school history with 27 career goals, one behind third place on the leaderboard, and six shy of program record holder Matt Eliason's 33.
Throughout the regular-season, defense was the hallmark of head coach Tim Lenahan's Wildcats. Anchored by senior goalkeeper Tyler Miller, senior defender Nikko Boxall and senior defensive midfielder Connor Holloway, the 'Cats surrendered just 10 goals this season, four fewer than any other Big Ten program.
Miller was honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Thursday after making six stops to record his league-leading ninth shutout of the season on Wednesday against the Badgers. The Woodbury, N.J., native finished the regular-season atop the Big Ten in shutouts (9), save percentage (.861) and goals-against average (0.54). His 36 career shutouts are the third-most in Big Ten history, and a Northwestern record.
Sunday's Quarterfinal will be Indiana's first visit to Lakeside Field in 2014, as the only regular-season matchup between the Wildcats and Hoosiers came September 28 in Bloomington. Behind an 88th minute goal from Brandon Medina and eight saves by Miller, the 'Cats earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Armstrong Stadium.
Northwestern has advanced to the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in each of the last three seasons, which includes a win over Indiana in the 2011 Semifinals in 2011 where the Wildcats broke a 1-1 tie by advancing 3-2 on penalty kicks.
Admission for all Northwestern students will be complimentary with a WildCard courtesy of head coach Tim Lenahan. Tickets will be available on matchday at the Lakeside Field box office, or can be purchased in advance by calling 888-GO-PURPLE or visiting NUSports.com.
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