Nov. 16, 2012

Live Audio | Gametracker | MU-NU notes (PDF)

NCAA Bracket | NCAA Digital Program

MILWAUKEE -- Marquette University returns to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship for the first time in 15 years when the Golden Eagles host the Northwestern Wildcats in a second-round match at Valley Fields on Sunday, Nov. 18. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Central time.

Live streaming audio can be heard at marquetteradio.org/listen. WMUR Marquette Radio will carry MU's 17th Internet stream of the 2012 season with Matt Trebby handling play-by-play. Live stats will also be available courtesy of Gametracker on GoMarquette.com.

Key Storylines
• Marquette is making its second appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. MU, which also received an at-large berth in 1997, fell to Bowling Green 1-0 at Valley Fields on Nov. 22, 1997 in its NCAA postseason debut.

• The Golden Eagles garnered the No. 7 seed overall in this year's field of 48. By virtue of being one of 16 seeded teams, MU earned a first-round bye and the right to host Sunday's second-round contest.

• The winner of Sunday's match will advance to the third round of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship and will face the winner of Winthrop at (No. 10) Louisville on Sunday, Nov. 25. The highest seeded team will host the third round match.

• Marquette is unbeaten in 11 matches at Valley Fields this season with an overall record of 10-0-1, which includes a 3-0 postseason win over Cincinnati in the opening round of the 2012 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship, the team's last home contest. MU drew with then eighth-ranked Notre Dame, 1-1, on Oct. 27, after winning nine straight home matches.

Marquette Golden Eagles (16-3-1)
Marquette matched a school record by picking up its 16th win of the campaign with a 2-1 decision at Louisville in the BIG EAST quarterfinals back on Nov. 3. MU fell to Georgetown 2-1 in double-overtime in the semifinals at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. in the Golden Eagles' last time out. Senior Andy Huftalin boasts a team-high 24 points, including a team-best 10 goals and four game-winners. Charlie Lyon has started every match at goalkeeper and is among the national leaders in several statistical categories.

Northwestern Wildcats (12-5-4)
Northwestern, which was ranked No. 24 in the last Soccer America poll, advanced to the NCAA second round with a 1-0 home win over Western Illinois in an opening-round match Thursday. This is the Wildcats seventh NCAA Championship appearance and sixth under head coach Tim Lenahan, who is 123-56-34 in 12 seasons in Evanston. Northwestern is paced offensively by 18 points from Joey Calistri (eight goals, two assists) and by Chris Ritter (15 points, five goals, five assists). Goalkeeper Tyler Miller owns a 0.81 goals against average and nine shutouts on the season.

Series History
Marquette has a 16-4-1 all-time advantage over Northwestern in a series that dates back to MU's 1964 debut season. Marquette had defeated the Wildcats on nine straight occasions but the two teams have not met since 1-0 MU victory at Valley Fields on Sept. 12, 2000.