BOSTON -- Looking to conclude non-conference play on a high note before the stretch run of the CAA slate, the Northeastern men's soccer team returns home to Parsons Field to host Hartford on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
For Northeastern students interested in attending Tuesday's game, shuttle buses will depart from Chicken Lou's one hour, 45 minutes, 30 minutes and 15 minutes prior to the match, and return to campus at the conclusion of the game.
Last time out
Six shots on goal for the Huskies and six saves by
Dylan Faber were not enough to help the Huskies overcome an early goal by William & Mary, as they fell 1-0 to the Tribe in Williamsburg, Va.
The Tribe got off to a quick start when Ryan Flesch scored his first goal of the season just 46 seconds into the match, ending Faber's shutout streak at 377:39. Flesch picked up a pass from Jackson Eskay and fired it into the lower right corner of the Husky goal.
Getting down to crunch time
With just three games remaining in the regular season, including two league games, Northeastern seems to be peaking at the right time. NU is 3-1-1 in conference play, allowing just two goals in the process.
The win against Hofstra moved the Huskies to 2-0-0 in CAA play for the second consecutive season. It marks the first time since Northeastern joined the CAA that NU has begun conference competition with two straight wins in two straight seasons.
Nothing better than clean sheets
Sophomore goalkeeper
Dylan Faber and the Northeastern defense has held its opponents to just one goal in the last four matches, including three straight shutouts, seeing its goals against average plummet to 0.75 (second in the CAA. Faber, who was named the CAA Player of the Week last week, is second in the conference in both goals against average (0.75) and save percentage (.828), while leading the league in saves (53) and second in shutouts (six).
The Huskies have held its opponents to one goal or less in 11 of 14 matches this season. Northeastern is second in the CAA and 28th in the nation with a goals against average of 0.75, and 19th in the country in save percentage (.828).
Marini climbing the charts
Senior captain
Dante Marini is having a strong season for the Huskies, leading the team with 15 points (five goals, five assists) in 14 games played, including seven points in his last five games. On Sept. 7, the Chadds Ford, Pa. native set new career-highs in assists (two) and points (four) against Fairfield. Marini is NU's active leader in career points (43) on 13 goals and 17 assists, which is ninth all-time at Northeastern. He is also fourth all-time in career assists.
Marini has been the face of the Northeastern midfield during his career on Huntington Avenue, having started the previous 55 matches dating back to the end of his freshman season.
Carter coming into his own
After missing a pair of matches late last month, sophomore forward
Terence Carter has returned in a big way. The London, England native has two goals in his last five games, and is second on the team this season with eight points (four goals).
Carter has scored his goals at the right time, as well, with two of his four tallies standing as the eventual game-winners.
Pair of firsts
Wednesday night saw freshman
Christian McKenna tally his first collegiate goal in the 22nd minute against the Blue Hens. His teammate,
Matt Callahan, supplied McKenna with the pass that led to the goal for Callahan's first career assist.
In total, six different Huskies (Callahan,
Devin Devoy,
Marc Greenblatt,
Mike Lobben, McKenna,
Robbie Schallmo) have tallied their first collegiate points this season.
Diving into conference play
The start of CAA competition has arrived for the Huskies, who play seven of its final eight regular season games against conference opponents. Northeastern was 6-1-3 in CAA play last season to finish second in the league standings, and looks to secure the top spot in the conference and the right to host the 2013 CAA tournament at Parsons Field.
Scouting Hartford
Former America East rival Hartford will take on Northeastern for the first time since the Huskies joined the CAA. The two teams last met in 2004, when Northeastern took a 1-0 decision at home on Oct. 31. The Huskies are 5-14-2 all-time against the Hawks.
Hartford is 8-3-3 on the season, but has stumbled a bit entering America East play. In their last four games, all conference contests, the Hawks are 1-2-1. The offense has dried up a bit for the Hawks, who haven't scored in their last 200 minutes.
The Hartford offense has been led by sophomore forward Javoni Simms, who has scored five goals and added an assist for 11 points. Junior defender Damion Lowe has also been a big contributor offensively, with four goals and an assist for nine points.
Freshman David MacKinnon has allowed only 10 goals in 1210:18 in goal. He has compiled a 7-3-2 record and collected six shutouts in 12 starts while posting a 0.74 goals against average and a .778 save percentage. Sophomore Viltsu Tuumi has also been solid, allowing just one goal over 135:00.
O Captain, My Captain
Northeastern has chosen its leaders for the 2013 season. Senior
Dante Marini, along with juniors
Simon Cox and
Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave will be looked upon to lead a group of Huskies who return 17 letterwinners, including eight starters, from last season's squad.
Cox enters his first season as a tri-captain, while Fayd'Herbe de Maudave and Marini also served as captains last season.
The road ahead
The Huskies will have a much needed break in their schedule following Tuesday's match. NU will be off for 10 days before returning to the pitch on Nov. 2 against College of Charleston for Senior Night at Parsons Field (6 p.m.).
