Northwestern University Athletics
The 2002 Women's Lacrosse Outlook
3/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 6, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - There are indications acknowledging that this is Northwestern's voyage back into the lacrosse world as a varsity program. Two of them pop up immediately.
* The 19-player roster contains 16 freshmen. The other four players are sophomores.
* Two of the sophomores had never held a lacrosse stick before joining the team.
Still, as the 2002 season draws near, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is fired up to get started. And her attitude seems to fit perfectly as the team prepares to put its paintbrush on a completely clean sheet.
"We have not set any goals," said Hiller. "In my opinion, when you set goals you are only limiting yourself. We have talked a lot about the potential this group has, and how we need to come together. We are just going to enjoy the journey.
"This will be an awesome experience-it already has been. There will never be a 'first year' again, so we plan to have fun with it."
Ever the competitor, Amonte Hiller may be telling her team to enjoy the ride, but part of that joy comes in winning.
"I like our schedule for this season," said Amonte Hiller. "It is a huge advantage to be in a conference, which I think has a nice mix of teams that are traditional powers and some younger programs."
Amonte Hiller is trying to expedite the Wildcats' competitiveness by challenging her freshmen to grow up quicker.
"I have told them all along that in the fall they were freshmen, but when we started practices for the spring they were sophomores," she said.
Her true sophomores have aided the maturation process. Angela McMahon transferred to NU from UMass and has college lacrosse experience. Kaitlin Young played on the club team and has played under Amonte Hiller. The two new players to the game, Ashley and Courtney Koester-one of two sets of twins on the team-also know life as a college athlete. Courtney played for NU's women's basketball team last year, and both Koesters participated on the women's rugby team.
Still, Amonte Hiller knows where most of the leadership will come from.
"We're trying to let them find the leadership in each other," she said. "But the coaching staff is providing a lot of it right now. However, I've seen a big difference just from fall ball to the preseason."
Many things will key the Wildcats' success this season, but obviously one of the biggest factors will be their ability to score goals. Amonte Hiller feels that her attack is ready to accept the challenge.
"We have a group from which any number of players can step up," she said. "I feel like we have a lot of weapons, and that will make us harder to defend."
McMahon figures to be the veteran leader up front. She scored 12 goals at UMass last year. Amonte Hiller is also counting on Courtney Flynn and Marit Spekman to provide scoring punch.
Sarah Albrecht will join McMahon and goalkeeper Ashley Gersuk as captains for this fall. She is one of many versatile players who will see time primarily in an attacking mode, along with Sara Crosby and Jessica Kaplan.
The midfield might be Northwestern's strongest area of the field, according to Amonte Hiller. Erin Flynn-Courtney's twin sister-played just one year in high school, but Amonte Hiller feels she could be an impact player for the 'Cats. Amonte Hiller has been amazed by the progress from the Koesters, and thinks they may also find a niche by the time the season begins.
"They are great athletes and have picked the game up quickly," said Amonte Hiller. "They bring some unique abilities, in the way they see the field and distribute."
Jenna Gantner might be the most fit player of the bunch, and will be looked to for leadership. A trio of other players-Young, Shelby Chlopak and Laurel Robinson-have picked up their play from the fall, which pleases Amonte Hiller.
Looking toward the defensive end, Amonte Hiller envisions Donna McCann in a midfield role with defensive tendencies, calling her "versatile, fast and intense." Kaitie Lenahan could also fill that role.
On line defense, Kate Darmody leads the way and expects to receive help from Young and Sarah Walsh.
In the goal, Gersuk will likely hold down the No. 1 spot when the season opens on March 8 against Marist. Meredith Philipp will push her for the role.
"I feel good about our goalkeeping," said Amonte Hiller. "Ashley is one of the most athletic goalies I've seen in awhile."
When Kelly Amonte Hiller was hired at Northwestern, she stepped into a situation many head coaches dream about-a completely clean slate. Now, she looks forward to seeing how her vision begins to take shape.
"The women I looked at weren't necessarily heavily recruited, but I knew them and saw in them the chance to really blossom at this level," she said. "I still feel that way about all of them, but I know that we are very much a work in progress.
"We have enjoyed the preseason journey," she continued, "and we are anxious to take the next step in our quest.
"We are ready to get going."
