Northwestern University Athletics
Top-Ranked Wildcats Head West to Open 2012 Campaign
2/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 6, 2012
No. 1 Northwestern (0-0, 0-0 ALC) at No. 6 Stanford (0-0, 0-0 MPSF)
Friday, Feb. 10
Cagan Stadium
Stanford, Calif. • 9 p.m. CT
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Northwestern Lacrosse Weekly Release -- Feb. 6 
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern, ranked No. 1 in the country to begin the year, is set to take on No. 6 Stanford in its 2012 season-opener at 9 p.m. CT Friday. Bolstered by 10 returning starters from their 2011 NCAA championship-winning squad, the 'Cats will be looking to win for the sixth straight time against the Cardinal.
Scouting the Cardinal
2011 Recap: 16-3, 6-0 MPSF
Postseason: NCAA Tournament qualifier
Head Coach: Amy Bokker (William & Mary, 1995), third season, 45-13
Leading Returners: Emilie Boeri (Sr., M): 27g, 12a in 2011; Jackie Candelaria (Jr., M): 24g, 8a in 2011
In the Cage: Lyndsey Munoz (So.), 32 saves, 8.80 GAA in 11 games in 2011
Series Information
In the first step on the road to defending their national championship, the Wildcats are tasked with trying to put an end to one of the longest active home winning streaks in women's college lacrosse, traveling to take on No. 6 Stanford. The Cardinal have won 22 consecutive games at Cagan Stadium dating to a loss against Syracuse on Feb. 20, 2009. Interestingly, Northwestern defeated Stanford in the 2010 season-opener in a game originally scheduled to be played at Cagan Stadium. But heavy rains before the game shifted the action to Stanford's Varsity Turf field, thereby preserving the Cardinal's winning streak in their home stadium.
Amonte Hiller's Coaching Tree Grows
Kelly Amonte Hiller will be standing opposite one of her former players on the sideline Friday against Stanford, an occurrence that is becoming more and more commonplace. 2010 alum and two-time IWLCA All-American Danielle Spencer is in her first season as a Stanford assistant coach, one of nine former Northwestern players are coaching at the DI level. In addition, Alexis Venechanos (Ohio State) and Acacia Walker (Boston College) represent fomer NU assistants under Amonte Hiller now plying their trade elsewhere in Division I.
Wildcats Debut At Top of IWLCA Preseason Poll
Head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller's 2012 Northwestern squad checked in at No. 1 with the release of the IWLCA Preseason Poll on Feb. 3, with the defending NCAA champions collecting 17 of 20 first-place votes. Last year's national runner-up Maryland opens the year at No. 2 while North Carolina, Florida, Duke and Stanford -- all four of which are on Northwestern's regular-season schedule -- round out the top six. Looking at NU's American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) brethren, five of the six league squads are in the preseason top-20 while the sixth, Johns Hopkins, is receiving votes.
Champion Challenge Provides Stern Preseason Test for Wildcats
Northwestern stepped on the field for the first time this year at the Champion Challenge presented by U.S. Lacrosse on Jan. 28-29 in Orlando. The Wildcats performed well in their exhibition opener, a 9-3 win over Team England, thanks in part to three goals by Kelly Rich and four assists by Casey Bocklet. On Sunday, NU squared off with arguably the best team in the world, Team USA, overcoming a slow start to ultimately play well in a 16-6 defeat to the national squad. Amanda Macaluso and Erin Fitzgerald each had two goals while senior GK Brianne LoManto turned away 11 USA shots. On the other side, eight of Team USA's 16 goals were scored by former Northwestern players.
Not a Freshman Anymore
Despite seeing limited playing time during the 2011 season, then-freshman Kerri Harrington was called on when it mattered most to help her team win an NCAA championship. The 5-foot-10 defender made her first career start in the title game versus Maryland and, undaunted by the stakes, held Tewaaraton Award finalist Sarah Mollison without a point. It marked the first time in 67 games Mollison was kept off the scoresheet and was key in NU's 8-7 defeat of the Terps. Harrington, younger sister of former Wildcat defender Sara Harrington, was the winner in Lacrosse Magazine's "Best Performance" category in its Best of 2011 Award series.
Sophomore Spark
Harrington is not the only member of the sophomore class poised to make big contributions for NU in 2012. On offense, Kelly Rich figures to build on a rookie campaign in which she scored 20 goals, including at least one goal in seven straight games from Feb. 27-March 26, and twice earned ALC Rookie of the Week honors. Midfielder Kara Mupo led all NU freshmen with 25 points and made 14 starts in 2011 and will again play a key role in the attack. The list goes on with Kat DeRonda, who grew into a reliable playmaker down the stretch of 2011 with seven goals and nine assists, while 2011 ALC Rookie of the Year Alyssa Leonard and Christy Turner each will feature prominently in NU's midfield and defensive units, respectively.
Amonte Hiller Featured in Upcoming Big Ten Icons Episode
In a year-long series that debuted in October, 2011, the Big Ten Network is profiling one coach from all 12 conference institutions who they consider to be a Big Ten icon. Kelly Amonte Hiller is Northwestern's representative on the list and is the subject of a 30-minute feature that debuts on Saturday, Feb. 18 (8:30 p.m. CT) on BTN. Other coaching legends profiled in the series include Indiana's Bobby Knight (men's basketball), Nebraska's Tom Osborne (football) and Iowa's Dan Gable (wrestling).
Northwestern Lacrosse Season Tickets On Sale Now!
Season tickets for Northwestern Lacrosse are now available, with 10-game passes available for $49 (adult), $29 (youth) and $99 (family plan: two adult, three youth). Season ticket holders also receive a free replica 2011 NCAA championship ring as well as an invitation to a closed Wildcats practice.
Download the complete Northwestern weekly release in PDF format at the top of the page.
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