Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats, Minutewomen Meet in Battle of Unbeatens Saturday
3/14/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 14, 2012
||
No. 1 Northwestern (6-0, 0-0 ALC) vs. No. 19 Massachusetts (7-0, 0-0 A-10)
Saturday, March 17 • Noon CT
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill.
Streaming Video: Wildcats All-Access
Live Twitter Updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Live Stats: Gametracker
Northwestern Weekly Release -- vs. Massachusetts
Season Tickets Still Available! | 2012 Promotional Calendar
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Meeting a pair of familiar faces on the opposing sideline, head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller aims to lead her top-ranked Wildcats to a 7-0 start when No. 1 NU hosts 19th-ranked and undefeated Massachusetts at noon Saturday at Lakeside Field.
Wildcat fans can get the luck of the Irish on their side this St. Patrick's Day by attending the game and receiving a FREE St. Patrick's Day-themed Northwestern Lacrosse shirt to show off their NU and Irish pride. Be sure to arrive early as supplies are limited! There is more St. Patrick's Day fun to be had once the game begins, as Northwestern Athletics will be asking fans to "Press Your Luck" with plenty of fun giveaways and drawings throughout the game.
Northwestern On the Web
Wildcats All-Access will provide a live stream of Saturday's contest with Massachusetts from Lakeside Field. Fans are also encouraged to access live Twitter updates (@NU_SportsLIVE) during the game along with live stats via
Gametracker.
Scouting the Minutewomen:
2012: 7-0, 1-0 away, 0-0 Atlantic-10
Last Three Games: W vs. American (19-11), W at Vermont (9-8), W vs. Sacred Heart (21-7)
Head Coach: Angela McMahon (Northwestern, '04); 23-3 at UMass (second season)
Key Players: Katie Ferris (So., A): 25 goals, 15 assists; Lauren Terracciano (Jr., A): 15 goals, 12 assists; Nina Sarcona (Sr., A) 12 goals, 45 draw controls
In Goal: Katie Florence (Sr.): 27 saves, .422 save percentage, 7.44 goals against average
Massachusetts plays under the leadership of two former Northwestern Wildcats, head coach Angela McMahon ('04) and associate head coach Sarah Albrecht ('06). Now in their second season in Amherst, the duo guided the Minutewomen to a 6-0 start for the second straight season, this year thanks to the hot scoring hand of sophomore attack Katie Ferris (25g, 15a). Last Saturday, UMass eked out a one-goal road win at Vermont as senior Jesse O'Donnell -- a product of Loyola Academy on Chicago's North Shore -- scored three of her team's nine goals to spark the win.
Series Information:
Northwestern leads the all-time series with UMass by a 10-1 margin and brings a 10-game winning streak into Saturday's matchup. Last season's meeting in Amherst saw then-sophomore Erin Fitzgerald net a career-best five goals and the Wildcats dominated on draw controls, 24-2, including a perfect 13-for-13 in the second half. The last time the Minutewomen came to Evanston was for the first round of the 2009 NCAA Championship, when the 'Cats trounced the visitors 23-6 en route to the program's fifth national title.
Last Time Out
Boosted by junior Taylor Thornton's first career hat trick and a four-goal effort by senior Jessica Russo, top-ranked Northwestern overwhelmed visiting William & Mary, 19-7, Saturday at Lakeside Field. The Wildcats led by as many as 15 late in the game after scoring eight of the game's first nine goals at the outset. Defensively, senior Alex Frank wreaked havoc on William & Mary in the midfield, causing a career-best six turnovers on the afternoon.
View From the Top
Northwestern retained its No. 1 ranking in this week's IWLCA poll, the 62nd time in a span of 88 ranking periods dating to 2005 in which the Wildcats have held the top spot in the country. Lacrosse fans can be forgiven for thinking the rankings might double as Northwestern's 2012 schedule; of the 11 teams directly below the Wildcats in this week's rankings, 10 are on NU's regular-season schedule, with No. 5 Maryland the lone exception. The American Lacrosse Conference boasts five teams in the top 12, with Northwestern being joined by No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 11 Penn State and No. 12 Ohio State.
Wildcat Wall
Northwestern's veteran defensive unit has terrorized opposing offenses this year, ranking second nationally in fewest goals surrendered per outing at 6.0. Senior goalkeeper Brianne LoManto has been the anchor in the cage for the NU defense, leading the nation in goals against average with a paltry 5.03 goals allowed per game. In fact, LoManto is the only goalkeeper in the country who has played more than 300 minutes this season (322) and has a GAA below 7.0.
Field General Alex Frank
A two-year captain for the Wildcats, senior Alex Frank has been a rock in the midfield throughout her career. Against William & Mary, Frank's defensive prowess was on display as she caused a career-best six turnovers in the game, vaulting her up two spots to third on NU's career caused turnovers list with 81. She also pitched in four ground balls against the Tribe. The Westwood, Mass., native also ranks in the top 10 for her career in draw controls (181), and despite still waiting on her first point this season, has 55 goals and 75 points in her career.
Beating the Best
Northwestern has excelled in recent seasons despite playing one of the most rigorous schedules in the country, and 2012 is no different. Northwestern's run of three straight victories against top-10 teams to open the year matches a feat it accomplished in last season's NCAA Tournament, defeating No. 7 Albany, No. 3 North Carolina and No. 1 Maryland en route to the title. It was, however, the first time under Amonte Hiller that NU knocked off three straight top-10 teams in the regular season. Since NU's current senior class arrived on campus for the 2009 season, the 'Cats have played 53 games against ranked opponents (including postseason) and won 50 of them. That includes a 27-3 mark against opponents ranked in the top 10.
Lords of Lakeside
No. 19 Massachusetts arrives in Evanston attempting to do what few teams have accomplished since 2005, which is to win at Lakeside Field. Northwestern's performance on its home turf has been nothing short of historic, with the Wildcats compiling a home record of 73-1 since the start of the 2005 season. That includes a 41-1 mark since the construction of Lakeside Field prior to the 2008 campaign. The Wildcats also are 30-4 at home against opponents ranked in the top 10 and won an NCAA-record 58 straight home contests from May 13, 2004 through April 18, 2010.
Year-by-Year Home Record
2002: 1-4
2003: 3-3
2004: 7-1
2005: 11-0
2006: 8-0
2007: 12-0
2008: 12-0
2009: 10-0
2010: 9-1
2011: 9-0
2012: 2-0
Season Tickets Still Available!
Even with the home-opener in the rearview mirror, it's not too late to obtain your 2012 Northwestern Lacrosse season tickets! Full-season packages can be purchased for only $49 for adults, $29 for youth and $99 for a family plan (two adult, three youth season tickets). Buying a season ticket is also the only way to receive a FREE replica 2011 NCAA championship ring and an invite to a closed Wildcats practice! Call 888-GO-PURPLE or click here to order your tickets today.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! and subscribe to the NU Sports Express e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!
