Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Go For Fourth-Straight National Championship Sunday
5/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
May 25, 2008
Opening Draw
Top-seeded Northwestern (20-1) will go for a fourth-straight national championship, facing up against second-seeded Penn (17-1) in the championship game of the 2008 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship at 6 p.m. CT Sunday, May 25, at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md. The game will be televised live on CBS College Sports Network (formerly CSTV).
`Cats Remain Hot in May
With the 16-8 defeat of Syracuse in the NCAA semifinals, Northwestern extended its tournament to 15-straight games, the second longest streak in NCAA history behind Maryland's 21 straight. Under head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, the `Cats are 16-1 in the tournament, and her .941 winning percentage is tops in the championship's history.
Scouting Penn
Second-seeded Penn (17-1) rallied from two goals down late in the second half to force overtime against Duke in the second semifinal, then a goal from senior Rachel Manson with 40 seconds remaining in the extra period would prove to be the game-winner as the Quakers advance to the finals with an 8-7 win over the Blue Devils. Manson leads the team in scoring with 54 points (30g, 24a) with senior Melissa Lehman adding 44 of her own (33g, 11a). Penn has established itself as the top defensive team in the nation, as senior goalkeeper Sarah Waxman has anchored the Quakers, posting a nation's best 6.05 goals against average with 107 saves on the year. Head coach Karin Brower is in her eighth season at Penn and 10th overall with a career record of 100-77.
Series Information
Northwestern and Penn meet for the sixth time this evening, with the Wildcats holding a 4-2 series edge, including a 12-2 victory in the 2007 NCAA semifinals. However, it was the Quakers who had the upper hand back on April 27 in Philadelphia, taking an 11-7 decision and snapping NU's 36-game winning streak. Penn freshman Giulia Giordano had three goals and a pair of assists while senior goalkeeper Sarah Waxman made seven saves as the Quakers shut out NU in the second half. Juniors Hilary Bowen and Meredith Frank each had three goals for the `Cats while Hannah Nielsen recorded three assists.
Bowen Sets Single-Season Goal Record
With her six goal performance against the Orange, junior Hilary Bowen took over first place on Northwestern's single-season goal list, surpassing Kate Oleykowski's 76 in 1987. Bowen, the reigning NCAA Championship MVP, has 78 goals on the season and has now netted at least one goal in 39 consecutive games. She also extended her consecutive point streak to 43 games, and ranks fifth on NU's all-time points list with 229 (161g, 68a).
Wildcat Watch Party
Fans unable to make it to Towson for Sunday night's national championship game are invited to cheer on the `Cats at Tommy Nevin's at 1450 Sherman Ave. in Evanston. The watch party is open to everyone, and those with a WildCard receive a 10 percent discount during the game.
