This time last season, the Northwestern men’s soccer team was in the midst of an incredible 13-game unbeaten streak. But with a loss and three draws in their first nine games, the 2009 Wildcat squad has by no means attained the same level of unbridled success.
When the ‘Cats tied Wisconsin-Green Bay 3-3 in the season opener, it should have signaled to ‘Cats fans that maybe this squad had some work to do to match the success of 2008. The following game did nothing to support the ‘Cats initial No. 9 national ranking, as they fell 2-1 to DePaul. By September 18’s ugly double overtime 0-0 tie against South Carolina in front of a sold-out home crowd at Lakeside Field, many new students were seen making for the exits following the end of regulation.
Captain senior defender Mark Blades attributed the team’s relatively slow start to defensive troubles.
“We’ve given up a lot more goals than we did last year,” Blades said. “I think that’s been our main concern – overall team defense.”
Senior goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal was forced to sit out two straight games due to injury, further hampering a defense that led the Big Ten last year.
But despite early season struggles, the Wildcats seem to finally have caught fire. And just in time for Big Ten conference play. Following Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at Northern Illinois, the ‘Cats are riding a eight game unbeaten streak. Both the team and its fans are hoping that the 25th ranked Wildcats can stay hot.
Even during their rough start, the Wildcats had some positive takeaways. For one, junior forward Matt Eliason picked up right where he left off last season, emerging as one of the Big Ten’s top offensive threats with a scorching start that saw him score seven goals in just the first four games of the season. He has slowed down somewhat since, only scoring one goal over the next five games, but he still leads the ‘Cats with 17 points on the season, with eight goals and one assist. Sophomore forward Oliver Kupe, who came on late last season as one of the Wildcats’ key players, has also continued his emergence, notching one goal and five assists for a total of seven points, good for second on the team.
During Rosenthal’s absence in goal, sophomore Drew Kotler and freshman Jonathan Harris performed admirably in his place. But to have Rosenthal back between the posts has been invaluable for the ‘Cats as they begin conference play and a definite factor in their recent string of wins. In the 1-0 shutout of Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday, Rosenthal made seven saves in a performance that earned him Big Ten and National Player of the Week honors.
Having a healthy starting goalkeeper gives the ‘Cats some much-needed confidence over the next month leading up to the Big Ten Tournament and postseason. After the current three game road trip, they return to Evanston on October 14 for five of their last six games.
Blades believes that the extended home stand will be good preparation for the postseason.
“We’ll be comfortable at home,” he said before the team embarked on its current three game road trip. “We can get some good results, get some wins, and get rolling right before the Big Ten tournament.”
Hopefully, that preparation can help yield the Wildcats a Big Ten title. If this team can catch fire, anything’s possible. The 2008 season set a successful precedent Northwestern soccer fans wouldn’t mind getting used to. All this 2009 squad has to do is keep the ball rolling.