Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Crash National Poll
3/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 11, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's lacrosse program may be in just its second year back as a varsity program, but the Wildcats are off to a 5-0 start and they are starting to earn the attention of the lacrosse-playing nation.
When the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) released its official national poll Tuesday morning, the 'Cats were ranked 19th. It represents NU's first national ranking since coming back as a varsity last year for the first time since 1993.
Northwestern is one of five American Lacrosse Conference teams in this week's poll, giving them more teams than any other conference. The Wildcats join Penn State (12), Vanderbilt (13), Johns Hopkins (15) and Ohio State (17).
In addition, junior Courtney Koester (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) was one of five women named to the insidelacrosse.com National Player of the Week honor roll and also earned American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Week honors. Koester -- who had never played the game until last year, when she and her twin sister Ashley were recruited off the street by head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller -- scored four goals and had an assist in NU's 13-9 win over Ohio U. in the ALC opener for both teams. On Monday, she tallied three more points (2 goals, 1 assist) and had five draw controls.
It was the second week in a row an NU player received the Inside Lacrosse honor; sophomore Courtney Flynn was tabbed last week.
Suzanne Eyler of top-ranked Loyola (Md.) was named the insidelacrosse.com National Player of the Week after recording two goals, a pair of caused turnovers and three draw controls in the Greyhounds' win over defending national champion Princeton. She also had four goals vs. North Carolina.
