Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Face Challenges On The Road
3/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 2, 2005
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EVANSTON, Ill. - After a pair of easy wins last weekend against a first-year program (Oregon) and a program still trying to establish itself (Denver), the third-ranked Northwestern women's lacrosse team steps into the fire this weekend -- twice.
On Thursday, the Wildcats renew their rivalry with regional foe Notre Dame, who was ranked 20th in the IWLCA preseason poll. On Saturday, they open American Lacrosse Conference play at Ohio. Thursday's game will take place at 4:30 EST (3:30 Central); Saturday's contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST (noon Central).
NU head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller knows that both games will present challenges for her team.
"Looking at Thursday's game, I know that Notre Dame has a great team," she said. "We had two great games with them last season, and I think the rivalry really took a spike -- we have viewed their program as our rival, with the proximity and who they were, since we started this program. I do not think they viewed us as a rival before last year, and why should they have? We were not beating them. But now the series is 2-2, and it has made this an exciting game."
After losing in 2002 and 2003 by wide margins, Northwestern turned the tables last year and announced its arrival on the national scene with a 9-5 win against a Fighting Irish team that was undefeated and ranked sixth nationally at the time. The teams met again in the first round of the NCAA Tournament -- again in Evanston -- and the Wildcats emerged with a 10-8 victory.
Amonte Hiller was quick to acknowledge that this year's game is taking place far earlier than normal; as a result, it will be played indoors, at Notre Dame's Loftus Indoor Sports Center.
"It is hard for both of us to schedule, being relatively secluded from the other programs," she said. "What we tend to do is schedule all of our games, and then fit each other in based on what dates are left. This season, it happened to come early on.
"We have played three games after having one quality scrimmage, and they have played one game but had three quality scrimmages," she continued. "So I do not expect us to be too far apart in where our teams are in terms of being prepared."
The `Cats move on from South Bend to Athens Saturday, taking on a Bobcat team they defeated 25-7 a year ago. However, Amonte Hiller knows that a new season brings a whole new dynamic.
"Ohio played last year's game without its best player, Dana Dobbie, and she is a force -- that is a much different game last year if she plays," she said. "I think Ohio will be a great test for us, and getting into ALC play adds another level of intensity."
This will be NU's only ALC game until April 15, when the women begin a stretch that sees them playing five straight league games to close out the regular season. Saturday's game in Athens is also the Wildcats' first since the preseason ALC poll came out with them picked to win everything.
"Whether we are picked first, last, or in between, it makes no difference," said Amonte Hiller. "Our philosophy will be the same. The dynamic that has changed is that the teams we beat last year will be gunning for us this year, and the women know that. UNC was a new team for us, but this weekend we play two teams we are familiar with and who are familiar with us. It adds a whole different atmosphere to the games."
Some notes as the Wildcats head to South Bend and Athens...
* NU and Notre Dame are tied, 2-2, in the series after the Wildcats' two wins last season. The only meeting in South Bend took place during the 2003 season; the Irish won 13-9.
* NU leads the series with Ohio, 4-0, with three of the wins coming since the program returned to varsity status in 2002. The last time they played in Athens (2003), the Wildcats earned a 13-9 victory.
* By coincidence, Notre Dame (1-0) and Ohio (0-2) played each other last weekend, with the Irish winning 16-10 in Athens. Ohio also lost to Duquesne last weekend.
* NU is hoping to go 4-0 and 5-0 for the second time in the four years since it returned to varsity status in 2002; the other time came in 2003, when the 'Cats started 5-0.
* NU had back-to-back 20-goal games for the first time since the program returned to varsity status in 2002 last weekend (21 vs. Oregon, 20 at Denver).
* NU had 11 different players score in each of its games last weekend, one player shy of the program's modern record.
* Goalkeeper Ashley Gersuk needs just 15 saves to become the program's all-time leader in that category, including the first era of NU lacrosse (1982-92).
