Northwestern University Athletics
Top-Ranked Northwestern Makes East Coast Swing
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 22, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Top-ranked Northwestern (1-0) travels to the East Coast for a pair of contests against Rutgers and Hofstra. The Wildcats take on the Scarlet Knights (0-0) at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in Piscataway, N.J. Northwestern then visits the Pride (1-0) in Hempstead, N.Y., at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Scouting Rutgers
Rutgers opens its 2008 season against the 'Cats after a 12-5 finish in 2007. The Scarlet Knights were picked to finish fourth in the Big East behind Syracuse, Georgetown and Notre Dame, and return three of their top five leading scorers. Junior Nina Frankoski netted 40 goals last season, while sophomore Brooke Cantwell added 22 goals and junior Michelle Poole scored 20. In net, junior Sandra Abel posted a 4-0 record in 11 starts with a 10.32 goals against average and a .435 save percentage. Youth will be a factor for Rutgers as the Knights' roster is composed of nine sophomores and nine freshmen. Head coach Laura Brand is in her sixth season at Rutgers with an overall record of 44-36 (.550).
Scouting Hofstra
Hofstra began the 2008 season with a 16-7 victory over UMBC on Feb. 17 and hosts New Hampshire on Saturday, Feb. 23. The Pride is coming off a 12-7 finish in 2007 which resulted in their second-straight Colonial Athletic Association championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. Sophomore Corrine Gandolfi (24 goals) and junior Lauren Whitcomb (23) are the leading returning goal scorers for Hofstra. Senior goalkeeper Maisie Osteen went 12-5 for the Pride in 17 starts, tallying 154 saves with a .478 save percentage and a 10.01 goals against average. Abby Morgan is in her second season at the helm, posting a 13-7 overall record (.650)
Series Information
This is the sixth meeting between Northwestern and Rutgers with the Wildcats holding a 5-0 advantage, including last season's 15-4 'Cats victory in Evanston. Northwestern also holds a 2-0 all-time series advantage against Hofstra after defeating the Pride 16-4 in Evanston last season.
For the complete Northwestern lacrosse release, click here.
