Women’s Soccer

Following Nebraska’s 2-0 win over Michigan State on Wednesday in the final Big Ten regular season game of the season, Northwestern was officially eliminated from competing in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Wildcats finished the 2018 regular season in ninth place in the Big Ten table with a conference record of 4-4-3, which is good for 15 points. The Cornhuskers entered Wednesday tied with NU in eighth with 15 points, but with its victory over the Spartans, moved to 18 points and to the fifth spot in the standings.

Right above the Cats in the standings are Michigan and Minnesota. The Wolverines and Golden Gophers are both 5-5-1 in conference play, good for 16 points.

NU did not play two Big Ten teams during the season — Nebraska and Michigan State — due to scheduling. The Spartans finished last in the standings, tallied only four goals in 11 conference games and failed to win a Big Ten match.

Despite missing out on the Big Ten tournament, the Cats’ season is potentially not over yet. Following NU’s tie to Iowa on Sunday, coach Michael Moynihan said he believes the Cats have a good shot at making the NCAA Tournament and will continue to train with the expectation there are still games to be played.

On the season as a whole, NU is 10-4-4 with some marquee victories, including a 1-0 victory over Big Ten regular season champion No. 16 Penn State and an impressive neutral-site tie against No. 13 West Virginia. The Cats are also ranked No. 49 in the RPI rankings.

The NCAA Tournament selections are announced on Nov. 5. Sixty-four teams participate in the tournament with 31 teams earning automatic qualification and 33 other teams earning at-large bids.

NU has made the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons, winning its first round game all three years and advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2016.

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