Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats No. 3 in Inside Lacrosse Preseason Poll
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 4, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - A theme seems to be developing for the Northwestern women's lacrosse team.
Inside Lacrosse released its preseason poll this week, and the Wildcats were picked third nationally. NU is behind only last year's NCAA finalists, champion Virginia (which defeated the 'Cats in an NCAA quarterfinal en route to the national title) at No. 1 and runner-up Princeton at No. 2.
The 'Cats were also selected No. 3 in the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll.
"It is great to receive this recognition from Inside Lacrosse," said NU head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who leads the program into just its fourth varsity season this spring. "Our program has gained momentum with each season, and we are looking forward to the upcoming campaign. We hope to continue developing as individuals and as a unit each day."
Northwestern went 15-3 last year -- highlighted by a 13-game winning streak -- and won a share of the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) title with Vanderbilt. All but one Wildcat player return from that team for the 2005 campaign; in fact, all of NU's seven leading scorers from a year ago have at least two years of eligibility remaining. Earlier in the week, Inside Lacrosse picked its preseason All-America teams, and five Wildcat women were honored.
NU is one of just two ALC teams in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll -- Johns Hopkins is seventh.
Northwestern will start the season with a tough test, traveling to North Carolina to take on the preseason No. 6 Tar Heels on Saturday, Feb. 20.
Inside Lacrosse 2005 Preseason Poll
1. Virginia
2. Princeton
3. Northwestern
4. Duke*
5. Georgetown
6. North Carolina*
7. Johns Hopkins*
8. Maryland
9. Loyola
10 Dartmouth
11. James Madison
12. Towson
13. Syracuse
14. William & Mary
15. Delaware
16. Notre Dame*
17. UNH*
18. Hofstra
19. George Mason
20. Boston University
*Teams on NU's 2005 schedule.
