Unbeaten across their last four matchups, the ‘Cats sit just a point off the seventh spot in the Big Ten Conference table. Following the completion of the regular season on November 3, the top seven teams in the league will earn bids to the 2024 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Tournament, which opens on November 7 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill.
LAST TIME OUT
Tyler Glassberg scored in the 23rd minute as Northwestern knocked off No. 18 Michigan, 1-0, last Friday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The ‘Cats turned in a stifling defensive showing in the win, holding the Wolverines without a shot on goal en route to their first victory over Michigan since 2016.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
After seeing a season-opening 11-match unbeaten run stopped in a 2-1 setback to UCLA on October 11, Ohio State bounced back with a 3-2 road win at Wisconsin eight days later, a victory that brought the Buckeyes record to 10-1-2 overall (5-1-1 B1G).
Seventh-year head coach Brian Maisonneuve’s team ascended to the top spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history this past Tuesday. Last Sunday, the Buckeyes were also tabbed No. 1 in the initial top 16 rankings by the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee. Ohio State features one of the nation’s most potent attacks, ranking inside the top five in Division I in scoring offense (3rd; 2.77), goal differential (3rd; +23), shots per game (3rd; 18.3), goals (4th; 36), points per game (4th; 8.15), and overall points (4th; 106).
Michael Adedokun finds himself in the midst of an outstanding senior campaign. The 2023 Second Team All-Big Ten pick leads Ohio State in goals (7), assists (8), and overall points (22), and is fresh off a one-goal, two-assist effort against Wisconsin. Adedokun leads the line for a Buckeye attack that features six players with three-plus goals on the year. Patrick McLaughlin has started in goal in each of Ohio State’s last two games. The Buckeye netminder, who has split time with Max Trejo, owns a 1.03 goals against average across seven starting assignments.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Ohio State will meet for the 44th time on Friday evening in Ohio’s state capital, a series which the hosts lead, 23-14-6 (.604). After falling into an early deficit, the ‘Cats erupted for four goals in last season’s meeting with the Buckeyes, as Jason Gajadhar, Bryant Mayer, Brandon Clagette, and Fritz Volmar each found the back of the net in a 4-2 victory on September 24 at Martin Stadium.
Northwestern will be in search of its first road win over Ohio State since a 3-2 triumph back on October 9, 2011. The Wildcats are 0-4-2 (.167) in their previous six trips to Columbus.
UP NEXT
Northwestern closes out the road portion of its 2024 schedule at No. 25 Indiana on Tuesday, October 29. Kickoff from Bill Armstrong Stadium is set for 7 p.m. (CT) in a matchup that will be televised on Big Ten Network.
