Big Ten opponent awaits men's soccer
Mike Vaught
Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: Sports
Western Illinois' men's soccer team (3-7-0) will take on No. 16 Northwestern after picking up its first conference victory Saturday against IUPUI.
The Wildcats (6-1-4) have a nine-game unbeaten-streak going and have won three of their last four matches, each by a score of 1-0.
Northwestern is led by goalie Misha Rosenthal, who leads the Big Ten in saves with 5.44 stops per game.
"We put those games on the schedule because we want to play the best," said head coach Eric Johnson. "And the opportunity to play the best is what any athlete wants."
Although the Leathernecks are going to compete against a hot Big Ten team, Johnson is approaching the contest like any other match.
"It's no different from Saturday's game," Johnson said. "Saturday's game after Northwestern will be just as big as Wednesday's game, they're all big."
After losing two consecutive matches, Western got a much-needed win on Saturday.
"I think the turning points have already occurred," Johnson said. "I think we turned the corner because we got the first shut-out and have been very competitive in our last games. Now we just have to be competitive in the last part of the season. "
Junior midfielder Jonathan Sandoval said the team went into the IUPUI game with a playoff mentality to help them earn a victory.
"This was really big for us, we approached this game as a championship game or a tournament game," Sandoval said. "It's been rough, but we haven't been discouraged. We've been trying to stick together, and it looks like we're headed on the right side now."
Johnson wants his squad to continue to play well as the season winds down.
"Always, it's that part of the season," said Johnson. "October comes and it's time to get it going. We need to prepare that way for every match. Beating Northwestern would be a great victory for us, but it's just another game."
Senior goalkeeper Stephen Paterson got his first win and shut-out on Saturday and is expected to start Wednesday as well. Paterson has been sharing the job with sophomore Andrew Ryan, but he has gotten most of the work, and is averaging 1.82 goals against with a .708 save percentage.
"Most likely he'll (Paterson) start," Johnson said. "He had a very good game the other night and got his first shut out. He's the senior leader of the team so we expect good things out of him."
After Northwestern, the 'Necks return home for another league game against Centenary (3-8-1, 1-2) on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (6-1-4) have a nine-game unbeaten-streak going and have won three of their last four matches, each by a score of 1-0.
Northwestern is led by goalie Misha Rosenthal, who leads the Big Ten in saves with 5.44 stops per game.
"We put those games on the schedule because we want to play the best," said head coach Eric Johnson. "And the opportunity to play the best is what any athlete wants."
Although the Leathernecks are going to compete against a hot Big Ten team, Johnson is approaching the contest like any other match.
"It's no different from Saturday's game," Johnson said. "Saturday's game after Northwestern will be just as big as Wednesday's game, they're all big."
After losing two consecutive matches, Western got a much-needed win on Saturday.
"I think the turning points have already occurred," Johnson said. "I think we turned the corner because we got the first shut-out and have been very competitive in our last games. Now we just have to be competitive in the last part of the season. "
Junior midfielder Jonathan Sandoval said the team went into the IUPUI game with a playoff mentality to help them earn a victory.
"This was really big for us, we approached this game as a championship game or a tournament game," Sandoval said. "It's been rough, but we haven't been discouraged. We've been trying to stick together, and it looks like we're headed on the right side now."
Johnson wants his squad to continue to play well as the season winds down.
"Always, it's that part of the season," said Johnson. "October comes and it's time to get it going. We need to prepare that way for every match. Beating Northwestern would be a great victory for us, but it's just another game."
Senior goalkeeper Stephen Paterson got his first win and shut-out on Saturday and is expected to start Wednesday as well. Paterson has been sharing the job with sophomore Andrew Ryan, but he has gotten most of the work, and is averaging 1.82 goals against with a .708 save percentage.
"Most likely he'll (Paterson) start," Johnson said. "He had a very good game the other night and got his first shut out. He's the senior leader of the team so we expect good things out of him."
After Northwestern, the 'Necks return home for another league game against Centenary (3-8-1, 1-2) on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.
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