Northwestern University Athletics
No. 1 Wildcats Open Six-Game Homestand This Weekend
3/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 28, 2007
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Top-ranked Northwestern (5-1) begins a six-game homestand Friday when it welcomes No. 8 Syracuse (6-3) for a 4 p.m. showdown at the Thomas Athletic Complex in Evanston. NU will then have one day to rest up before going up against another ranked team in No. 19 UConn (5-2) at noon on Sunday.
Northwestern has been playing inspired lacrosse over the past three weeks, winning five-straight games while averaging more than 17 goals per game and allowing only 4.8.
Battle of Nation's Top Two Attacks
Prepare for some fireworks in Friday's game as the nation's top two scoring teams do battle. Syracuse is ranked No. 1 in the country in scoring, averaging 15.5 goals per game while the Wildcats are second at 15.2. The Orange have topped 16 or more goals six times -- including two 23-goal games -- while NU?comes in averaging 17.2 goals over its current five-game win streak.
Back On Top
By virtue of two impressive wins last week over UMass and Boston University, the Wildcats have reclaimed the top spot in this week's InsideLacrosse.com Top 20 Poll. Since its one-point, double-overtime setback at North Carolina back on Feb. 17, the Wildcats have played like a team reborn. They have won five-straight games -- three against ranked teams -- and have outscored their opponents 86-24 over that stretch.
Cats Among NCAA Leaders
To no one's surprise, the Wildcats are among the NCAA statistical leaders in several categories. NU?leads the nation in scoring margin (+10.0) and scoring defense (5.3) and are No. 2 in scoring with 15.2 goals per game.
Individually, goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop ranks second in both goals-against-average (5.2) and save percentage (.634). Hannah Nielsen is fifth with 5.5 points per game and sixth with 2.8 assists. Hilary Bowen ranks 11th in points (4.83) and 12th in assists with 2.0 per game. Kristen Kjellman rounds out the NU leaders, ranking 13th in points (4.67)?and 17th in goals (3.17).
Early and Often
The Wildcats have made a living jumping out to big leads this season. Through six games NU has outscored the opposition 52-10 in the first half of games. They led 13-0 at the half at Vanderbilt, 12-4 at Notre Dame, 10-1 vs. UMass and 7-0 at Boston University.
Last Time Out: NU 17, BU 4
Sophomores Hilary Bowen and Hannah Nielsen combined for 11 goals and classmate Morgan Lathrop made 12 saves in goal as Northwestern cruised past host Boston University 17-4 at Nickerson Field. The victory also was the fifth-straight for the Wildcats who are averaging 17.2 goals and giving up just 4.8 over that stretch. Nielsen also tallied four assists for nine points while Bowen also ended up with nine with three dishes. The Wildcats scored the first eight goals of the contest before BU tallied its first goal 5:26 into the second period. Nielsen opened the scoring with the first goal less than two minutes into the contest before Kristen Kjellman made it 2-0 less than two minutes later. Bowen then blew the game open with three-straight goals to make it 5-0 as NU eventually took a 7-0 halftime lead. BU's offense finally came alive in the second half, scoring four goals on 14 shots. But they never threatened thanks to the outstanding play of Lathrop who improved her record to 5-1 on the season. Boston natives Meredith Frank (2g) and Kjellman (2g, 2a) each scored twice while Casey Donohoe and Aly Josephs both had one goal.
Kjellman Nearing Point, Goal Record
Kristen Kjellman is knocking on the door of the NU?record books, ready to break the school's all-time records for both point and goals. With 287 total points, she needs two more to tie and three to break the all-time record of 289, held by Kate Oleykowski (1984-87). She also enters Friday's game with 203 career goals -- 25 behind the all-time leader -- also Oleykowski -- who scored 228.
Streakers
Senior Aly Josephs and sophomore Meredith Frank have recorded at least one point in 28 and 27 consecutive games, respectively. Josephs' streak (28 games) started in the 2005 championship game against Virginia while Frank (27 games) started her streak last season, notching at least one point in goal or assist fashion in every game of her young career.
NCAA?Attendance Record
Northwestern and UMass set an NCAA regular-season attendance record with 3,075 spectators at the inaugural "Friends of Jaclyn"?College Lacrosse Challenge at Yorktown High School in Yorktown, N.Y. The event raised just under $40,000 for brain tumor awareness.
Nielsen On Fast Track
Though it's still early, sophomore Hannah Nielsen is on pace for a record-breaking season. Through six games, the Australia native has 17 assists, an average of 2.8 per game. At her current pace she will shatter the Northwestern single-season record for assists which is 54, set by current assistant coach Lindsey Munday in 2005.
Multiple Threats
The Wildcats are one of the nation's top scoring teams, due mainly to their multiple threats on attack. Northwestern has five players with 12 or more goals, led by Kristen Kjellman's 19. Three sophomores take up the next three spots in Hilary Bowen (17), Hannah Nielsen (16) and Meredith Frank (14) followed by senior Aly Josephs with 12.
Since they were held to single digits in the opener at UNC, the Wildcat attack has exploded, averaging 17.2 goals per game over their five-game win streak. And its been Kjellman stirring the 'Cats drink over that stretch, scoring 18 goals in those five games, including a season-high six against Notre Dame and four vs. Penn. Hilary Bowen (15g, 12a) and Hannah Nielsen (14g, 15a) have combined for 29 goals and 27 assists over that stretch.
Scouting The Orange
Syracuse enters the game with the nation's top-ranked attack, scoring 15.5 goals per game but giving up 9.8. They are 6-3 on the year with all three losses coming by a combined total of four points--all to ranked teams--to #6 Dartmouth (11-10), #9 Virginia (10-8) and #10 Georgetown (9-8, 3ot). Since then they have won four-straight games. Syracuse has three players with 20 or more goals in Halley Quillinan (25), Katie Rowan (23), Ashley Pike (22) and Christina Dove (20). Amber Pardee-Hill has played every minute in goal, recording 79 saves. Syracuse is coached by 10th-year head coach Lisa Miller.
Scouting UConn
UConn is ranked 19th and 5-2 entering its game Friday at Notre Dame. The Huskies have won four of their last five and are coming off an 18-16 double-overtime loss to Syracuse last Saturday. Seniors Shannon Burke and Kristen Link have carried much of the load offensively with 19 and 18 goals, respectively. UConn also is one of the more potent offensive teams in the country, averaging 13.7 goals per game. The Huskie goal is guarded by Jenna Moulton who has a 10.06 goals-against-average. Megan Cersosimo is in her first season as head coach and sixth season overall.
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