Wildcat Roundup: Women’s Soccer, Volleyball Start Hot

While Wildcat football has been preparing for an opening week clash with Western Michigan, the other Northwestern fall sports teams have already made their debut. Here’s a roundup of all the action so far:
WOMEN’S SOCCER:
Perhaps the most promising of Northwestern’s fall teams, NU Women’s soccer is ranked 24th in the country in the latest NSCAA poll after a 3-0 start. The Wildcats have conceded just once this year, in a 2-1 win over DePaul. Brenna Lovera leads the team with 3 goals, one in each of the matches completed. The Wildcats were scheduled to play Kentucky this past weekend, but the match was called off on account of bad weather after just 45 minutes, making it a no contest. After a pair of clean sheets against VCU and James Madison to open up the year, junior goalkeeper Lauren Clem is now tied for a program record in shutouts with 24. Clem will look to set the record against Indiana State on Thursday night as the ‘Cats make their debut at the newly renovated Martin Stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan. You can hear that match, and the Wildcats’ match against Colorado State on Sunday, on WNUR Sports.
VOLLEYBALL:
New coach Shane Davis is off and running in style with Northwestern, as the Wildcats raced out to a 3-0 start at the Cavalier Classic in Charlottesville, VA. Northwestern opened their season with a pair of convincing sweeps against George Washington and Buffalo. The ‘Cats then took on Virginia with a tournament championship on the line. Northwestern took the first set 25-17, but dropped the second set 25-19. However, the Wildcats came back from intermission strong, and took the final two sets 25-19, and 25-17 to start the year 3-0 and claim a tournament championship. Junior setter Taylor Tashima continued to set the table for the Wildcats, collecting 122 assists in just the first 3 matches of the year. Symone Abbott led the attack with 55 kills, while both Gabrielle Hazan and Kayla Morin pitched in 27 kills. This weekend, the Wildcats will be in Dayton, Ohio for the Dayton Invitational. Northwestern will take on UT-Chattanooga on Friday, before a double-header against Dayton and Xavier on Saturday.
FIELD HOCKEY:
Northwestern field hockey opened up their season in Durham, New Hampshire last weekend, going 1-1. The ‘Cats fell behind 2-0 to Boston in their opening match. Dominique Masters pulled a goal back for the ‘Cats, but the final scoreline finished 2-1. The Wildcats bounced back well on Sunday though, defeating UMass 5-0. Isabel Fiens scored the opener less than 3 minutes into the match, and added a second goal late on, while Masters also collected her 2nd goal of the season. Northwestern will now head to Lancaster, PA for a pair of matches against Boston College and Duke this weekend.
MEN’S SOCCER:
Playing the first match at the newly renovated Martin Stadium on the shores of Lake Michigan, Northwestern men’s soccer used a pair of goals from the penalty spot to take down Florida Gulf Coast 2-1. Brandon Medina made his return after missing the 2015 season, and converted both spot kicks for Northwestern. On Monday night however, the Wildcats were not as fortunate, conceding a penalty in the 84th minutes that was converted by Santa Clara to claim a 1-0 victory. Through 2 matches, neither Northwestern, nor their opponents have scored from open play, a real oddity. The Wildcats will be back in action on Friday against Denver at home, in a game that will be televised by BTN. The Wildcats will then make the short drive up to Milwaukee on Labor Day to battle the Marquette Golden Eagles.