Northwestern University Athletics
2002 Field Hockey Season in Review
1/21/2003 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Jan. 21, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's 2002 field hockey season can be summed up by the phrase "down to the wire." Week after week, the Wildcats found themselves battling the nation's best, as they faced seven teams that would end the season ranked in the top 20 of the STX/NFCHA Poll. Nine of the 'Cats matches were decided by one goal, with three going into overtime, including a thrilling win against Providence that was decided by penalty strokes. The season ended in similar exciting fashion with a tightly contested loss in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to eventual national runner-up Penn State. With a 6-13 record, the 2002 win total tripled that of 2001.
NU boasted a much-improved offense, led by sophomore Candice Cooper's (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) eight goals and three assists. Her seven points (3 goals, 1 assist) in Northwestern's win against Saint Louis earned her Big Ten Offensive Player of The Week honors. Junior Suzi Sutton (York, Pa./Dallastown) and senior Michelle Cifelli (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) tied for a team-best five assists.
Senior Lindsey Millard (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute Country Day), an anchor in the backfield, added timely scoring, as three of here four goals were gamewinners. For her efforts, Millard was awarded second-team All-Big Ten and all-tournament honors at the conference tournament.
The team received a new source of offense in the form of freshman Holly Palin (Mequon, Wis./University School of Milwaukee), who made an immediate impact with four goals. Not to be out done, freshman Ellen Schlafly (St. Louis, Mo./MICDS) scored her first collegiate goal against Saint Louis. NU's 24 goals were eight more than last season.
Despite the emerging offensive threat, the hallmark of Northwestern field hockey remained solid defense and goaltending. The 'Cats stymied some of best in the country, including holding a talented Michigan squad to one goal in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern also shut out an explosive Penn State squad en route to a 1-5 conference record.
The story in the net for Northwestern was one of youth and experience. Freshmen Kelly Augustine (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) received a baptism by fire, starting the first nine games of the season while senior Kendra Mesa (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) recovered from injury. Augustine more than held her own, notching four wins and two shutouts. Mesa stepped in without missing a beat, collecting 5 saves in 76-plus minutes of shutout hockey in her return against Penn State. The senior ended her career on a high note, notching two shutouts in the final weekend of the regular season and earning Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
Something for the rest of the Wildcat faithful can build toward-going out on top.
