Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Game With Vandy Looms Large
5/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
May 5, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - For the women Northwestern's third-year varsity lacrosse program, Thursday's game with Vanderbilt is likely the biggest game they have played in -- to date.
With a 14-1 record, the No. 6 ranking nationally and a 13-game win streak, the chances are high that the 'Cats will still be playing one week from now, in the NCAA Tournament. However, this meeting with the Commodores gives the women the opportunity to leave nothing to chance.
What are the stakes as the teams take to the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex pitch at 4 p.m.?
If Northwestern wins, the Wildcats will complete a stunning turnaround by finishing a perfect 6-0 in the American Lacrosse Conference; they will also receive the first NCAA automatic bid in the conference's three-year history.
A Vanderbilt win, however, allows the 11th-ranked Commodores to tie NU for the conference championship -- both teams would be 5-1. With the tiebreaker for the automatic bid being head-to-head competition, Vandy would receive it, and Northwestern would be left to hope for one of the eight at-large bids extended by the NCAA selection committee.
"We understand this is a conference game, so it is a big game," said NU head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "However, our focus for this game is going to be the same as it has been all season. We want to improve our performance and enjoy the moment. A game like this is why you play sports, so our team is excited.
"One of our strengths, especially in recent games, has been our ability to focus on the little things and not get too caught up in the larger picture," she continued. "If we keep that same focus for Thursday, I am excited about our chances."
Vanderbilt won the inaugural ALC championship in 2002, and Amonte Hiller acknowledges the Commodores will present a tough challenge for her still-youthful squad.
"Vanderbilt is a very senior-laden team, so I expect them to come out hard and come right after us," she said. "They have a lot of depth offensively, and this is a big game and a big weekend for them; they know they control their destiny for the NCAAs heading into this game."
It figures to be a charged atmosphere at the Thomas Athletic Complex Thursday, and Amonte Hiller thinks that is a good thing for her team as the postseason looms on the horizon.
"Our players are still rookies when it comes to the postseason and the atmosphere surrounding it, so this will hopefully be good for them," she said. "I hope to see a lot of students and members of the community out at the game, creating an environment that lets our players know this is big.
"We are in a position where we hope not only to make NCAAs, but even host a game or two," she continued. "This game could set the tone for home games again next week."
Notes for Thursday's Game
* Northwestern's 13-game winning streak remains second nationally behind No. 1 Princeton (25), who has finished its regular-season play.
* NU is looking for its first win over Vanderbilt -- the Commodores defeated the Wildcats 13-7 in 2002 (in Evanston) and 15-8 last season (in Nashville).
NU in ALC -- Team
Scoring Offense: 2nd (13.76)
Scoring Defense: 1st (7.41)
Goals Against Average: 4th (18.19)
Caused Turnovers: 3rd (9.66)
Draw Controls: 3rd (12.44)
NU in ALC -- Individuals
Goals-Against Average
1. Ashley Gersuk, 7.44
Save Percentage
2. Ashley Gersuk, .539
Points Per Game
4. Kristen Kjellman, 3.80
Goals Per Game
4. Kristen Kjellman, 2.93
Assists Per Game
3. Sarah Albrecht, 1.27
6. Lindsey Munday, 1.07
Draw Controls Per Game
2. Courtney Koester, 2.67
5. Kristen Kjellman, 2.00
Caused Turnovers Per Game
t-7. Courtney Koester, 1.20
NU in the National Stats
Team Scoring Offense: 3rd
Team Scoring Defense: 5th
Draw Controls Per Game: 16th
Individual Goals-Against Average: Ashley Gersuk 4th
Individual Save Percentage: Ashley Gersuk 17th
Individual Goals Per Game: Kristen Kjellman 20th
Goal-Scoring Streaks: Glassanos 15, Josephs 6, Kjellman 5, Munday 3, McMahon 2, McCann 2, Doherty 2.
Three-Goal Games: Kjellman 7, Josephs 5, Albrecht 4, Munday 3, Finocchiaro 2, Glassanos 2, Bush, C. Flynn, McMahon.
