Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Northwestern
Women's Soccer Opens the Season Saturday at Northwestern
2/19/2021 2:17:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern went 5-10-3 with a 3-6-2 Big Ten mark in 2019. The Wildcats are led by head coach Michael Moynihan, who is entering his ninth season and has guided Northwestern to four NCAA Tournament berths. Northwestern leads the series, 13-11-3 and won the last meeting, a 2-1 decision in Evanston on Oct. 11, 2018.
ENTERING VAN BENNEKOM'S SECOND YEAR
In the first season with head coach Erwin van Bennekom at the helm, Indiana went 8-9-2 on the year and advanced to the program's 14th appearance in the Big Ten Tournament. He named the fourth coach in Indiana Women's Soccer history on Dec. 4, 2018 after spending the last four seasons at Duke as associate head coach. His time at Duke was the most successful stretch in the Blue Devils' history, earning a 68-17-11 record and advancing to a pair of Women's College Cups. During the offseason, he added associate head coach Sergio Gonzalez and promoted assistant coach Emily Basten.
THREE EARN CONFERENCE PRESEASON HONORS
The Big Ten announced its Women's Soccer Preseason Players to Watch List on Wednesday with sophomore Avery Lockwood and freshmen Anna Aehling and Jen Blitchok representing Indiana. In addition, the preseason poll was unveiled with the Hoosiers coming in in eighth place. Both were voted on by the conference coaches.
Lockwood, a midfielder from Grand Rapids, Mich., started every game last year and led the team in points (13), goals (5) and game-winners (3). She was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, as well as Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list. Aehling, a defender from Coesfeld, Germany, has competed for her country multiple times, including in the U17 UEFA European Championship, U17 FIFA World Cup and U19 UEFA European Championship. Fellow freshman Blitchok joins the Hoosiers as a forward from Grandville, Mich. She saw great success at the club level, leading Midwest United FC to a U18/19 U.S. Soccer DA Championship. She was also an All-State and All-Conference selection from Grandville High School.
RETURNING THIS SEASON
Along with Lockwood, the Hoosiers return several starters from last year including Melanie Forbes, Allison Jorden, Hanna Németh, Oliwia Wos, Madeline Carlson and Alaina Kalin. Between the pipes, senior goalkeeper Bethany Kopel has the most shutouts in program history with 16 and was the anchor behind setting a new record in shutouts (9) and tying the record for Big Ten shutouts (6) last season.
WHAT'S AHEAD
This year's shortened schedule includes 11 regular season conference games, as well as a regional playoff weekend (April 8-11) and the Big Ten Tournament (April 15-18).
