Northwestern University Athletics
No. 1 Wildcats Open Conference Play at Ohio State Friday
3/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 12, 2008
Opening Draw
No. 1 Northwestern (5-0) travels to Columbus, Ohio, to open its 2008 American Lacrosse Conference schedule against the Buckeyes at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14. The Wildcats then return home to face Massachusetts at 1p.m. Sunday, March 16, at Lakeside Field.
Scouting Ohio State
Ohio State comes into the week at 4-1 overall and will open its American Lacrosse Conference schedule against the Wildcats after its game at Johns Hopkins on March 9 was postponed due to the heavy snow that moved through the Columbus area. The Buckeyes, who have flirted with a top-25 ranking all season, are led by freshman Maghan Beaudrault's 11 goals, while senior Kristen Slahor leads the team with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists). OSU also has a quartet of players with nine goals in seniors Jessica Patane and Amanda Shimp and sophomores Kelly Haggerty and Brittney Zerhusen. Junior goalkeeper Kristen Gilwee has recorded 48 saves through five games with a .565 save percentage and an 8.3 goals against average. Head coach Sue Stimmel is in her 12th season with the Buckeyes with an overall record of 87-84.
Scouting Massachusetts
Massachusetts enters the week 1-4 on the season after facing an extremely tough early season schedule including three teams ranked in the top-15. The Minutewomen won their season opener against Holy Cross before losing four straight, including defeat at the hands of third-ranked Maryland, 15th-ranked Boston University and No. 13 Dartmouth. UMass hosts No. 11 Yale on Wednesday, March 12 before traveling to Evanston to face the Wildcats. After their first five games, the Minutewomen are led by junior Kaytlin McCormick's 12 goals and four assists, with senior Melynda Zwick adding four goals and four assists. Junior goalkeeper Krissy Anderson has seen the majority of work in net for Massachuetts, recording 29 saves with a .408 save percentage. The Minutewomen are led by former Wildcat assistant Alexis Venechanos, who is 9-13 in her second season at Massachusetts.
Series Information
Northwestern holds a 4-2 series advantage against Ohio State and has won the last four against the Buckeyes. Last season the Wildcats took a 21-5 decision over OSU in Evanston thanks in part to junior Hannah Nielsen's seven assists, which tied a school record, and is 2-0 all-time in Columbus. The Wildcats have won five straight games against Massachusetts dating to 1984, including last season's 18-4 victory in the inaugural "Friends of Jaclyn" Brain Tumor Awareness College Lacrosse Challenge, and are 5-1 all-time against the Minutewomen.
Five Away From 100
With the two home victories over the weekend, seventh-year Wildcat head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has compiled an impressive 95-23 record with the 'Cats and sits just five victories shy of 100. The reigning four-time American Lacrosse Conference Coach of the Year is Northwestern's all-time leader in victories and winning percentage (.805) and has led the 'Cats to three-straight 20-plus win seasons.
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