Oct. 31, 2002

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern ended its nonconference schedule on a high note and it has the opportunity to do so for its remaining Big Ten docket, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at Wisconsin. The Wildcats finished 8-5 against out-of-conference opponents, including a 1-0 win Wednesday at Loyola but remain winless (0-4) thus far in the Big Ten.

The Wildcats' eight wins are the most since 1998 (8-11-1). With a win against Wisconsin, NU will have its best total since 1988 (14-4-1) and its first Big Ten win since 1999.

Wisconsin enters the match with a 2-3 Big Ten mark, including a 2-1 win against Michigan State its last time out. The Badgers' performance thus far has been right on par with their opponents. Wisconsin, at 8-8 overall, has both scored and allowed 24 goals.

Nick Van Sicklen comes in as the Badgers' top scoring threat with a team-leading seven goals and five assists (19 points). Eric Hanson leads Wisconsin in goal with four shutouts, a 1.47 goals-against average (GAA) and 68 saves.

Senior keeper J.D. Martin (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) has brought strong leadership to the 'Cats, along with an array of individual accolades. Martin has seven shutouts, good for a single-season school record. He also is already fifth on NU's career shutout list, and his current 1.26 GAA would put him fifth on the single-season list.

Tito Lara (Joliet, Ill./Joliet) netted his fifth game-winning goal, a penalty kick, against Loyola. The freshman has six goals and an assist for a team-high 13 points. He needs just two more goals to reach the ninth best total for goals in a season.