NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS - FIRST ROUND
Match #18 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, November 12, 1 p.m. CT
Evanston, Ill.
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: SIUEstats.com

SIUE Cougars
(8-5-4, 5-1-2 Ohio Valley)
Head Coach: Derek Burton
Goals P/G:     1.24
Goals Allowed P/G:    1.18
Goals-Shot Attempts:    21/216 (.097)
Shots on Goal-Attempts    92/216 (.426)
Shots P/G    12.7
Assists P/G    1.00
Corner Kicks P/G    5.12
Penalty Kicks (Team/Opp)    2-3, 2-3
Goals Leaders    Four tied (3)
Assists Leader    Sidney Christopher (5)
Shots Leader:    Lily Schnieders (42)
Saves Leader:    Taylor Spiller (69)

Northwestern Wildcats
(14-4-2, 7-2-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Michael Moynihan
Goals P/G:     1.95
Goals Allowed P/G:     0.75
Goals-Shot Attempts:     39/269 (.145)
Shots on Goal-Attempts:     145-269 (.539)
Shots P/G:     13.5
Assists P/G:     2.05
Corner Kicks P/G:    5.30
Penalty Kicks (Team/Opp):    4-5, 0-1
Goals Leaders:     Josie Aulicino (7)
Assists Leader:     Josie Aulicino (8)
Shots Leader:     Josie Aulicino (47)

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Northwestern leads 2-0
Last Meeting: L at Evanston, Ill. 5-0 (8/25/22)
Record at SIUE: 0-0
Record at Northwestern: 0-1
Last SIUE Win: None
Last NU win: at Evanston, Ill. 5-0 (8/25/22)
First Meeting: at Durham, N.C. 1-0 (11/28/16)

• Saturday's contest is a rematch of the Aug. 25 game in Evanston. Northwestern defeated SIUE 5-0.
• This is SIUE's third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fifth as an NCAA Division I program. The Cougars have made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament during the NCAA Division I era (2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 and 2022).
• SIUE was crowned the champion of the Ohio Valley Conference after a 1-0 victory over top-seeded Tennessee Tech in the championship game. SIUE is 5-0-1 in OVC Tournament title games.
• Matea Diekema has been named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. The Cougar sophomore has led the Cougars' defense on the wing and has contributed two goals on 13 shots offensively.
• Diekema and Lily Schnieders were named to the OVC first team while Sidney Christopher earned second team honors. Kasey Neidhardt was tabbed for the All-Newcomer team.
• Christopher was named the Most Valuable Player of the OVC Tournament. Taylor Spiller, Sarah Magnoni and Mary Wessel also were named to the All-Tournament team.
• SIUE is 8-1-4 this season when tied or leading at halftime and 8-1-2 when scoring the game's first goal.
• This is the first time this season SIUE has played a game on a Saturday.
• SIUE's last five goals all have come in the second half. SIUE has now scored 21 goals this season and allowed 20.
• Spiller has seven shutouts after back-to-back shutouts over Morehead State in the final regular season game and Friday's semifinals as well as the OVC finals against Tennessee Tech. Spiller has 12 career shutouts.
• SIUE has scored 10 goals in the last four games.
• Ten different players scored a goal this season for the Cougars after Wessel recorded her first in the OVC semifinals against Morehead State.
• The Cougars were No. 1 in the OVC in the current NCAA RPI at 136. Northwestern's RPI is 17.