Northwestern University Athletics
The 2003 Season Outlook
2/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 26, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Ah, youth.
Last year Northwestern welcomed women's lacrosse back into the fold after a decade-long absence. The Wildcats went 5-10.
This year, a quick peek at the roster shows that a staggering 23 of the 25 women on the roster have either freshman or sophomore eligibility.
So why is it that, when talking with them, phrases such as "NCAA Tournament" and -- gasp! -- "National Champions" keep coming up?
According to head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, her charges have merely become a product of their environment.
"Positiveness is what everything else in this program centers around," she said. "We as a coaching staff are really positive, and we believe so much in this program that I think it gives our women a real positive attitude. If something negative happens, we work to turn it into a positive experience; that ability to overcome adversity is what championship teams do."
Amonte Hiller speaks from experience; she won a pair of NCAA titles at Maryland and two World Cup championships with the U.S. national team. But still, isn't it maybe a little too soon for a second-year program -- one with so much youth -- to speak so brashly about reaching the sport's pinnacle?
"I don't think it's overconfidence," said Amonte Hiller. "It is believing in what we are about as a program. We tell our women to live in the moment, to be resilient and make positive things happen. Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship, definitely. But right now the biggest thing is focusing on what we can do every day to get better."
Amonte Hiller acknowledges that a year has made a lot of difference.
"Last year our coaching staff spent a lot of time trying to maintain a certain level of play," she said. "This year I feel like we are just coaching -- the players know what it takes to compete at this level, and they are taking care of that themselves. They are teaching the freshmen what it is all about. Having a year of competition under our belt has been the most important thing in preparing for this season.
"After all, they don't make generals out of people who have never been to battle."
Several women who battled as a first-year program last season return to raise NU's level in 2003.
The attack suffered what, on paper, could be a serious setback when last year's leading scorer, Sarah Albrecht (28 goals, 14 assists, 42 points), was lost for the year with an ACL injury during the preseason.
However, junior Angela McMahon and sophomore Courtney Flynn will lead a unit that could still surprise with its potency. McMahon had 25 points last season, while Flynn notched 15.
Three freshmen -- Lynda McCandlish, Sarah Fixler and Kacee Must -- will provide depth to this unit .
"I like our attack," said Amonte Hiller. "We have experienced, dynamic players, and we have added some freshmen who bring savvy to the table, so that has given us a nice balance. In addition, we have midfielders and even defenders who are becoming more confident about stepping into the attack."
Mention the midfield, and Amonte Hiller lights up as she talks about the depth at her disposal. As a result, she is ready to add a few new wrinkles.
A probable starting corps would include junior twin sisters Ashley and Courtney Koester, who have made massive strides since picking the game up in the fall of 2001, on the wings; sophomore Erin Flynn (Courtney's twin sister) in an attacking role; and sophomore Donna McCann in a supporting spot.
Several players figure to see plenty of time this season. Sara Crosby is a returning veteran and is aided by classmate Abby Alley, a former high school All-America who spent the last two years in Northwestern's field hockey program. An outstanding freshmen crew includes Laura Glassanos, Jenny Bush -- who with McCandlish shared Ohio South Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2002 -- Lindsey Munday, Katie Watt and Jen Markee.
"We have so much ability and toughness in the midfield," said Amonte Hiller. "Our freshmen have stepped in and given us depth, which is pretty exciting. You need that when you play a demanding schedule in a short time."
The defense is led by sophomore Kate Darmody, a first-team All-ALC pick in 2002. Classmates Kaitie Lenahan and Sarah Walsh were also forceful presences last year. Amonte Hiller also looks to sophomore Shelby Chlopak, senior Kendra Mesa -- another field hockey crossover -- and freshman Sarah Bailey to provide strong reinforcements.
"What we have been able to do defensively during the preseason is build on the schemes we developed last year," said Amonte Hiller. "They already know the system, now we can just tweak some things."
In goal, sophomore Ashley Gersuk had a stellar first season and has made significant strides in the off-season, including a productive stint at the U.S. national team's camp. Meredith Philipp was hampered in the fall by an arm injury but should be healthy to give Gersuk a solid backup.
"Ashley has a lot of confidence going into the season," said Amonte Hiller. "She has a great attitude and is willing to do what it takes to be a great athlete."
Looking ahead to 2003, Amonte Hiller remains -- typically -- upbeat.
"I have been so impressed by our ability to understand new concepts," she said. "When they do that we have to raise our level as coaches, and that is such a joy. The players see that some of the things we are doing this season are unique to this game, and they like that. I am so excited for the season to start!"
