Oct. 20, 2015
DATE: Oct. 20, 2015
TIME: 7 p.m. (CT)
LOCATION: Bridgeview, Ill. (Toyota Park — cap. 20,000)
LAST MEETING: ND, 1-0 (10/14/14 at ND)
LIVE STATS: nusports.com
TWITTER: @NDMenSoccer
The nonconference finale of the 2015 regular season has arrived for the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team. The No. 7/4 Irish (8-2-4) travel to Bridgeview, Illinois on Tuesday to face the Northwestern Wildcats (5-6-1). The 7 p.m. (CT) match will be held at the 20,000-seat Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire of the MLS.
Tuesday’s contest marks the second time that Notre Dame and Northwestern have met at Toyota Park. The Irish and Wildcats battled to a 1-1 draw at the venue on Sept. 29, 2010.
Notre Dame claimed its first victory in the series since 2000 over Northwestern with a 1-0 win on Oct. 14, 2014 at Alumni Stadium. Dating back to the first meeting between the teams at Toyota Park in 2010, the Irish have earned a result against the Wildcats in three of the last four contests.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern enters Tuesday’s match with a 5-6-1 record after losing to Rutgers 4-2 in Big Ten Conference play on Friday.
Joey Calistri leads all Northwestern players with three goals and three assists (nine points), connecting on one game-winning goal. Jeffrey Hopson and Sam Forsgren are tied with Calistri for the team lead with three assists.
Head coach Tim Lenahan is 148-105-44 (.572) in his 15th season at Northwestern, leading the Wildcats to eight NCAA Championship berths since 2004.
Irish In MLS Stadiums
Tuesday’s game against Northwestern at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois will mark the seventh Notre Dame contest at an MLS venue since the 2010 season. The Irish are a combined 4-1-1 in previous stops at professional stadiums during that span.
During its only previous game at Toyota Park against Northwestern, the Irish utilized a 79th minute goal from Steven Perry to tie the Wildcats 1-1 on Sept. 29, 2010.
Irish Remain Unbeaten In Extra Time
The 0-0 draw at Virginia Tech on Friday was the 18th straight result earned by the Irish in a match that went to extra time since an NCAA Round of 16 match against Indiana in 2012.
Notre Dame is now 2-0-4 in overtime matches in 2015, securing wins over both Indiana (1-0 on Aug. 30 in 2OT) and Duke (3-2 on Oct. 10 in OT) during extra time.
ND Extends Result Streak To Seven
Friday’s 0-0 draw at Virginia Tech was the seventh straight result earned by Notre Dame dating back to a 4-0 win over Michigan State on Sept. 22. The Irish have logged a combined record of 4-0-3 during that span.
The seven-match unbeaten streak is the longest for Notre Dame since the Irish claimed results in their first 13 contests in 2013, the season that Notre Dame won the program’s first national championship. The Irish added a season-ending 10-game unbeaten string following their lone defeat to win the 2013 NCAA Championship.
Hubbard Stands Tall For 7th Shutout
Junior goalkeeper Chris Hubbard posted his seventh overall shutout, including his sixth solo clean sheet, in last Friday’s 0-0 draw at Virginia Tech. Hubbard turned aside two Hokie shots to secure his first shutout since a 4-0 win at Michigan State on Sept. 22.
The seven Irish shutouts thus far this season have already surpassed their six total clean sheets in 2014.
ND Offense Increases Volume Late
Through the first 14 matches of the 2015 season, opponents hold an 87-70 first half shot advantage against Notre Dame. The Irish have reversed that trend when it has mattered most, in the second half and overtime.
Notre Dame has outshot its opposition 96-75 in the second half of the same span, adding an 11-5 edge in the first overtime and an 8-4 mark in second overtime periods (19-9 combined) during its 8-2-4 start.
Gallagher Still In ACC Goals Lead
Sophomore forward Jon Gallagher remains in a tie for the ACC goals lead after 14 starts, sharing the top spot with Duke’s Zach Mathers with seven goals each.
Gallagher leads all Notre Dame players in goals, points (16) and shots (45) thus far in 2015.
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant