July 19, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill.--New women's soccer coach Stephanie Erickson Wednesday announced the addition of former Wildcat Erin Ekeberg to her coaching staff. Ekeberg, who will begin her duties on July 31 and work primarily with the keepers, was a three-year starter at goalkeeper for the 'Cats from 1998-2000. She served as co-captain and won team MVP honors as a senior in 2000. Erickson and Ekeberg were teammates for one season in 1997.

"Northwestern women's soccer is very fortunate to have Erin return to her alma mater as an assistant coach," Erickson said. "Not only will she be instrumental in training our goalkeepers, she offers one of the sharpest minds and an incredible passion for Northwestern. She is motivated and excited to get started and I look forward to having her familiarity and support in our program."

Ekeberg, a three-time academic all-Big Ten selection, graduated cum laude from Northwestern in June of 2001, receiving her bachelor's degree in environmental sciences.

After working for one season as an assistant coach at California-Berkeley in 2001, she then went on to receive her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in May of 2005 where she was on the dean's list all four years. She spent the past year working as a litigation associate for Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP in New York City.

Her name is still etched in the Northwestern record books with the all-time leaders in Wildcat history, including the record for most minutes played by a goalkeeper in one season (2,027 in 1998). She is second all-time with 281 career saves, 5,206 minutes and 13 shutouts. Her seven shutouts in 1998 still rank second on the all-time single-season list. She notched 13 saves in the 1998 NCAA round of 16 match vs. eventual national champion Florida. Her career-best was 15 against Michigan in 2000, good for fifth on NU's all-time list.

The Palatine, Ill. native kept busy in the soccer broadcast business as well, serving as a play-by-play spotter for the San Jose Cyber Rays of the Women's United Soccer Association in the spring of 2002. She also served as the Administrative Director for the Northwestern Girls Soccer Camp in 2001 and '02 and assistant coach under another former Wildcat, Amanda McLean Robinson, at Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, Ill. in the spring of 2001.