BOSTON --Â The Northeastern men's soccer team resumes conference play on Saturday night when the Huskies host College of Charleston at 6 p.m. on Parsons Field.
For Northeastern students interested in attending Saturday'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.
Thank you seniors
Saturday night will mark the final regular season home game for six Northeastern seniors.
Conner Alexander,
Laurence Braude,
Jonathan Eckford,
Nick Goo,
Nikko Lara and
Dante Marini have helped lead the Huskies to a 35-24-13 record in three-plus seasons on Huntington Avenue, including three straight trips to the CAA tournament, one conference championship and the program's first appearance in the NCAA tournament in 10 years.
Last time out
Hartford netted a goal in each half and held the Northeastern men's soccer team (6-6-3) without a shot on goal to down the Huskies on Tuesday night at Parsons Field, 2-0.
Redshirt-junior
Jacob Aduama, who earned his first start in goal since 2011, was tested throughout the contest, tying a career-high with six saves as the Hawks outshot NU 14-7. Northeastern, meanwhile, was awarded six corner opportunities to Hartford's four.
Getting down to crunch time
With just two conference games remaining in the regular season, 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.
Playoff push
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.
Nothing better than clean sheets
Sophomore goalkeeper
Dylan Faber and the Northeastern defense has held its opponents to just three goals in the last five matches, including three straight shutouts, seeing its goals against average plummet to 0.83 (second in the CAA. Faber, who was named the CAA Player of the Week earlier this season, is leading the conference in both goals against average (0.75) and save percentage (.828), while fourth in the league in saves (53) and second in shutouts (six).
The Huskies have held its opponents to one goal or less in 11 of 15 matches this season. Northeastern is second in the CAA and 28th in the nation with a goals against average of 0.83, and 19th in the country in save percentage (.819).
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 15 games played, including seven points in his last six 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 56 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 six 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
Oct. 16 against Delaware 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.
Scouting the Cougars
Northeastern is set to face new CAA opponent College of Charleston for the first time in its history. CofC is 2-10-1 on the season with a record of 0-3-1 in the CAA. The Cougars are 0-4-1 in their last five games, most recently falling by a score of 1-2 at Alabama-Birmingham on Oct. 25.
The Cougars have scored only six goals this season, but two of them have come from freshman forward/midfielder Xavier Rajpaul. Three different goalkeeprs have seen multiple starts for Charleston, but sophomore Alex Young has gotten the majority of the action. He is 1-6-1 in eight starts, with a 1.26 goals against average and a .776 save percentage in nine games played.
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 close out the regular season on the road next week when Northeastern travels to UNCW for a 7 p.m. match with the Seahawks.
