No. 6 Wildcats Take on Big Ten-Leading Badgers

EVANSTON, Ill. –– No. 6 Northwestern (10-1-2, 4-0-1) returns home to Martin Stadium to host the Wisconsin Badgers (10-1-1, 5-0-0) in a matchup of the two teams at the top of the Big Ten Table. The marquee matchup kicks off at 7 p.m. CT on B1G+.

This past Sunday, the Wildcats took down in-state rival Illinois in style, shutting out the Fighting Illini 4-0. Rowan Lapi, Danika Austin, and Josie Aulicino all scored goals, with Aulicino bagging two. Lapi got the scoring started in the 33rd minute with a penalty kick goal. That scoreline held for the remainder of until the 57th minute when Danika Austin scored the first goal of her career on a right-footed strike from outside the 18 yard box.

That goal was so dirty, @ddaustin29 needs her shoes shined pic.twitter.com/MdvjHYzcco

— Northwestern Soccer (@NUWSoccer) October 2, 2022

Josie Aulicino added two more for insurance in the 66th and 72nd minutes. The win over Illinois extended NU’s unbeaten streak to eleven games, the longest unbeaten stretch in school history.

‘Cat Facts

• The United Soccer Coaches Poll released on October 4 has the Wildcats ranked sixth nationally, the highest ranking in program history
• The 10-1-2 record through thirteen games is the best start to a season since 2016, when the ‘Cats started 11-1-1
• NU has scored a first half goal in eight straight games
• Mia Raben leads the Big Ten in goals against average (0.404) and save percentage (.897)
• Josie Aulicino leads the Big Ten in assists (6), ranks second in shots on goal (20) and points (20), and third in goals (7)
• Aulicino is the only player in the conference with 7 goals and 6 assists
• Northwestern has scored a goal in the first ten minutes in four of its last six games and five of its last eight

Wisconsin rides into Friday night’s contest as winners of eight consecutive contests including five straight against B1G foes. Most recently, the Badgers rallied from a 1-0 deficit to down Minnesota 2-1 on Sunday, October 2. Both UW goals were scored in the last ten minutes of the game, first by Emma Jaskaniec in the 82nd…