Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Will Host NCAA First-Round Game
5/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
May 9, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Even when you know your team is going to make the NCAA Tournament, there is still the anticipation and excitement of seeing your name come up on the television screen. The men's and women's basketball tournament selections have been done in this fashion for years, but only recently has that experience begun to drift over to other college sports.
On Sunday afternoon, the Northwestern women's lacrosse team -- including head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller -- got to feel that thrill. And while the wait to see the Wildcats' name come up on the screen was lengthy, causing a little bit of stress, it ended up being well worth it.
College Sports Television saved Northwestern for the second-to-last matchup on the screen, but the good news came twice when the 'Cats found out that they not only had received an at-large bid into the 16-team field of the 2004 Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship, but that they would host a first-round game. The opponent? Regional rival Notre Dame.
Faceoff is slated for 3 p.m. Thursday at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex.
"When I was playing we never had these selection shows on TV," said Amonte Hiller. "It was exciting for me, this was the first time I got to see the pairings on TV. It is such a thrill for our players to experience this, to see their school's name up on that screen."
The selection of Northwestern into the NCAA field marks another new milestone for the third-year program, which was brought back to varsity status in 2002. However, the Wildcats were a fixture in the NCAAs during the previous era of varsity lacrosse at the school (1982-92) with five appearances between 1983-88.
"Getting both ourselves and Notre Dame in the field, as well as Vanderbilt, says a lot about how the sport is continuing to grow," said Amonte Hiller. "For so long the sport was dominated by the eastern schools, but our region is starting to make a name for itself and I think that is great for the sport."
The matchup of the Wildcats and the Irish was anticipated by virtually all pre-tournament prognosticators, given the proximity of the two schools. The question was where the game would be played; in the end, Evanston won out over South Bend.
These two teams played each other just 19 days ago, with Northwestern taking a 9-5 decision in miserable conditions at the Thomas Athletic Complex. With the stakes raised, Amonte Hiller assumes the intensity will spike upward as well.
"This game is going to be an absolute battle," she said. "Notre Dame will come out gunning for us -- they have a very talented attacker in Meredith Simon, and plenty of great players around her. They are strong all over the field.
"It will be fun to play Notre Dame," she continued. "With the two schools being so close to each other, we see it as a natural rivalry for us. Our players will be ready for this game."
