EVANSTON, Ill. — Newcomers Tommy Katsiyiannis and Garrett Opperman have been named to the 2017 Big Ten Conference All- Freshman Team, the league announced Friday morning.
Katsiyiannis enjoyed a breakout season in 2017. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native led the Wildcats with nine points on a team-best four goals to go along with one assists. Two of Katsiyiannis' four goals came as game-winners – vs. Rutgers (Oct. 15) and vs. Loyola (Oct. 24). His Golden Goal against Loyola came in the 104th minute and gave Northwestern a season-sweep against its Chicago Division-I foes. Katsiyiannis played in all 17 games, making 11 starts.
Opperman was one of seven unanimous selections to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. The center back started and played every minute of the 2017 season (1557 minutes). Opperman anchored the Wildcats' backline that assisted in three shutouts this season.
Senior goalkeeper Francisco Tomasino is Northwestern's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Northwestern earned the No. 8 seed in 2017 Big Ten tournament and will face ninth-seeded Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Winner of Saturday's match plays No. 1 Michigan on Sunday.
Congratulations to @TommyK2599 and @Goppertunity for earning nods to the All-B1G Freshman Team. #B1GCats | #EmptyTheTank pic.twitter.com/WCEI7rIBI0
— Northwestern MSoccer (@NUMensSoccer) November 3, 2017
Katsiyiannis enjoyed a breakout season in 2017. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native led the Wildcats with nine points on a team-best four goals to go along with one assists. Two of Katsiyiannis' four goals came as game-winners – vs. Rutgers (Oct. 15) and vs. Loyola (Oct. 24). His Golden Goal against Loyola came in the 104th minute and gave Northwestern a season-sweep against its Chicago Division-I foes. Katsiyiannis played in all 17 games, making 11 starts.
Opperman was one of seven unanimous selections to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. The center back started and played every minute of the 2017 season (1557 minutes). Opperman anchored the Wildcats' backline that assisted in three shutouts this season.
Senior goalkeeper Francisco Tomasino is Northwestern's Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Northwestern earned the No. 8 seed in 2017 Big Ten tournament and will face ninth-seeded Rutgers on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Winner of Saturday's match plays No. 1 Michigan on Sunday.