This past week, Wildcat action had the emotional weight of Northwestern midterm week; it was unbalanced, it was crazy and it definitely needed a nightcap.
THUMBS UP
Things are getting fishy
Northwestern sophomores Matthew Kestufskie and Jimmy Morrow will be competing at the National Guard FLW College Regional Fishing Championship this weekend at Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Ind. The duo qualified for the regional championship at a Kentucky competition back in May 2010. If they come out on top, Kestufskie and Morrow could win $25,000 for them and the university.
THUMBS DOWN
Women’s soccer, field hockey drop Senior Day matches
If the looming dread of graduation isn’t yet apparent for students, it sure is for fall athletes. Northwestern women had to stomach two losses in both soccer and field hockey. The soccer team lost their game against Minnesota 2-1 after dropping a 1-0 lead at the start of the game. Field hockey lost to No. 9 Penn State and couldn’t rally after falling in a 3-0 hole on “Hockeyween.” Hope is still in the air, however. Field hockey will host the Big Ten tournament (Nov. 4-7) and the (technically appropriate) football team has a chance to take a win from rival Illinois this Saturday.
THUMBS UP
Men’s basketball poised to defend winningest season in school history
Northwestern’s men’s basketball team will give fans a preview of what’s to come this upcoming season tomorrow night when they host Robert Morris University in Illinois for the season’s sole exhibition game. After two straight years of long post-season runs, Northwestern looks ready for another successful season with four starters and 12 letterwinners overall returning to this year’s squad. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
THUMBS DOWN
Men’s soccer lets a lead — and the Big Ten championship — slip through its fingers
The men’s soccer team fell 3-2 to No. 25 Indiana Saturday on the road, despite a 2-0 at the beginning of the second half. In addition to the loss, instead of tying Indiana for first place in the Big Ten standings, men’s soccer will have to settle for second behind the Hoosiers who take this year’s title. The Wildcats will finish up their season Saturday evening at Lakeside Field, starting at 5 p.m.
THUMBS UP
Individuals stand out at Big Ten Cross Country Championship
Women’s cross country competed in the Big Ten Championship race this past weekend, finishing 10th overall. Even though Northwestern didn’t place higher, individual runners achieved high marks. Sophomore Audrey Huth placed 20th for the highest Northwestern finish of the race. Huth’s ranking is also the highest finish for a Wildcat since 2003. In addition to Huth, freshman Michelle Moriset finished 40th, the second highest finish by a Wildcat last Saturday.
THUMBS DOWN (with a silver lining)
Persa’s hurt, and playing again, but is he ready?
As if the “Cardiac Cats” moniker couldn’t get any more real in Northwestern’s nail-biter against Indiana, starting quarterback superstar Dan Persa suffered a concussion late in the game. He’s been deemed capable to start against Penn State, where he’ll be returning home, but quite frankly, those of us with too much energy invested in the team are starting to feel it in our stomachs.
Speaking of Happy Valley, Northwestern’s Saturday’s road game at Penn State will start at 2:30 CDT on ABC, a prime kickoff time, but for all the wrong reasons. Legendary coach-immortal-being Joe Paterno is going for his 400th win in a sold-out game against a mercurial Wildcat team. Although the spotlight will be on JoePa’s Nittany Lions, the high stakes behind the game for the men in purple will keep everyone in Wildcat Nation holding onto our seats. And antacids. There’s no telling what kind of energy the ‘Cats will bring coming out of the tunnel.
Additional reporting by Katie Tang.