2008 - Junior: Started all 23 matches this season • Tallied game-winning goal and an assist against Missouri • Also had game-winning goal and an assist against Iowa State • Notched game-winner against Colorado College and Ohio State • Had goal and assist against Washington • Earned Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week honors after weekend against CC and Wash • Scored goal against Michigan State • Recorded game winning assist to Jordan Hilbrands in NCAA Tournament game against Memphis • Scored goal against Missouri in NCAA Tournament game • Led team with three shots and two shots on goal in NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina.
2007 - Sophomore: Started in all but one game this season • Finished fifth in Big Ten with seven assists and fourth in the league in assists per game (0.35) • Tied for third in the Big Ten in assists per game with 0.38 • Scored her first goal of the season with the game-winning goal over Kansas • Notched second game-winning goal vs. Minnesota to help the Illini capture their first Big Ten win of the season • Assisted on the game-winning goal against Michigan State • Tallied the game-winning assist on the overtime goal against Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 2006 - Freshman: Big Ten Freshman of the Year • Named to TopDrawerSoccer's All-Rookie second team • Selected to Soccer America's All-Freshman second team • A Soccer Buzz Great Lakes Region All-Freshman team selection • Named to TopDrawerSoccer's Team of the Week after scoring a hat trick against No. 12 Utah, all in the second half • Tied for 10th in the Big Ten in goals in all games • Scored her first career goal and notched an assist against Syracuse • Assisted on goals at Wisconsin and Northwestern • Scored Illinois' first goal against Penn State • Scored a goal at Michigan State • Scored a goal against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament • Scored a goal and an assist against Saint Louis in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. High School/Club: Named a Top 75 recruit by Soccer Buzz • Part of the Region I ODP team from 2003-05 • Led ODP team to Orange Classic championships in 2004 and 2005 • Named the Regional, Tidewater and Beach Player of the Year in 2005 with Princess Anne • Scored 22 goals in 23 games for the Cavaliers while helping lead them to a state semifinalist finish • First team All-State selection in 2005 • Named first team All-Region, All-Tidewater and All-District 2004-05 • Helped Beach FC Fyre to Virginia State Cup titles in 2002 and 2003 and a runner-up finish in 2004 • Led Fyre to four league championships. Personal: Born August 1, 1988 • Daughter of Anthony and Edna Nweke • Full given name is Nkechinyere Jane Nweke • Goes by "Chichi" • Has an older sister, Amaka, an older brother, Charles, and a twin brother, Tony • Member of National Honor Society and is a Ventures Scholar • Brother, Charles, plays soccer at Virginia Military Institute and brother, Tony, will join the team in the fall of 2006 • Majoring in psychology • Intends to be a family physician. Getting to Know Chichi: Favorite Athlete: Ronaldinho • Favorite Team: D.C. United • Favorite Movie: Mulan • Favorite Sports Movie: Mighty Ducks • Favorite Actor: Bill Cosby • Favorite Actress: Rachel McAdams • Favorite TV Show: One Tree Hill • Favorite Food: General Tso's chicken with rice • Biggest Sports Thrill: Playing at RFK Stadium • Pregame Superstitions: Handshakes with teammates • Three Words That Describe My Play: Competitive, fast and tough. Coach Rayfield on Nweke: "Chichi will have a new role as she becomes one of the primary threatening players in our attacking lineup. As Ella Masar did in the past, Chichi will draw significant defensive attention from other teams and she has earned that attention. Her ability to turn defenders, to slip through defensive lines, and to finish inside the box has won her that honor. She also has developed a shot from distance that will increase the danger she presents around the goal. Chichi will be dangerous this fall and the more consistently dangerous Chichi is, the more effective we will be because the more attention she draws, the more other players will find openings."
NWEKE'S CAREER STATISTICS |
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