Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Homestand Begins Saturday vs. William & Mary
3/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 9, 2012
No. 1 Northwestern (5-0, 0-0 ALC) vs. William & Mary (2-3, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, March 10 • Noon CT
Lakeside Field
Evanston, Ill.
Live Stream: Big Ten Digital Network
Live Twitter Updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Live Stats: Gametracker
Season Tickets Still Available! | 2012 Promotional Calendar
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 1 Northwestern plays the first of four consecutive home games at noon Saturday when it welcomes Colonial Athletic Association member William & Mary to Lakeside Field. The Wildcats, who received 19 of 20 first-place votes in this week's IWLCA poll, have used a combination of high-pressure defense and a balanced scoring attack to win its first five contests by an average margin of 8.8 goals per game.
Northwestern On the Web
The Big Ten Digital Network will provide a live stream of Saturday's game from Lakeside Field. Fans also are encouraged to access live Twitter updates (@NU_SportsLIVE) during the game along with live stats via Gametracker.
Scouting the Tribe:
2012: 2-3, 1-2 away, 0-0 CAA
Last Three Games: W vs. Longwood (22-9), W at Virginia Tech (9-6), L at Navy (13-12)
Head Coach: Brooke Ireland (Virginia Tech, '96); first year at William & Mary (2-3)
Key Players: Taelor Salmon (So., A): 14g, 2a, five ground balls; Maggie Anderson (Gr., A): 10g, 7a; Jenny Michael (Sr., M): 2g, 2a, 14 draw controls
In Goal: Lucy Ferguson (Fr.): 48 saves, 62 goals against, 13.44 goals against average
William & Mary graduated a senior-laden team following the 2011 season and is working to replace the lost production. That task has fallen on the shoulders of first-year head coach Brooke Ireland, a former star player and head coach for Virginia Tech. After opening the 2012 campaign with losses to top-5 ACC powers Duke and Maryland, the Tribe dropped a one-goal decision at Navy before recording the first win of the Ireland era against her alma mater, a 9-6 victory over Virginia Tech. Senior Maggie Anderson notched her second hat trick of the season in that victory.
Series Information:
Last March, Northwestern and William & Mary enjoyed a memorable matchup when they met on the lacrosse field for the first time since 1991, NU's penultimate season before losing varsity status. The game was held in sparkling Cowboys Stadium, the first-ever lacrosse game in the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and the Wildcats raced to an 18-8 victory thanks to an impressive four goals and four assists by Shannon Smith. A win Saturday at Lakeside Field would pull Northwestern level in the all-time series with William & Mary, which has won four of the seven all-time meetings.
Last Time Out:
No. 1 Northwestern used its speed in the open field and spread the wealth offensively to spark its 16-7 road win at Louisville Wednesday evening, improving to 5-0 on the year in the process. Sophomore Kara Mupo led the Wildcats with a career-best five goals while three Northwestern goalkeepers combined to make 13 saves in the win. Shannon Smith, sophomore Kelly Rich and freshman Casey Bocklet each added two goals while sophomore Alyssa Leonard spurred the offense with seven draw control wins. Defensively, Northwestern held the hosts scoreless for a stretch of more than 29 minutes spanning either side of halftime as the 'Cats' lead peaked at 11 en route to the victory.
Smith Garners Weekly Honors
Northwestern senior attack Shannon Smith was recognized with a pair of weekly awards this week, beginning with her first ALC Offensive Player of the Week award of the season as well as Synapse Sports' National Offensive Player of the Week honor. Smith catapulted Northwestern to a tough 11-9 overtime road victory against No. 9 Syracuse on the road last week, scoring five goals for the second straight game and adding one assist. Smith was key in NU's comeback from a 6-2 first-half deficit, scoring three goals in less than four minutes midway through the second half to restore an NU advantage. She also scored Northwestern's second overtime goal to ice the win. Smith then tallied one goal in a 15-2 win over Oregon on Saturday.
'Cats Stingy On `D' in Early Going
Northwestern's defense in 2012 is led by a stalwart crew of returners including goalkeeper Brianne LoManto, now in her third and final season as a starter. LoManto, who is 46-4 as a starter with 346 career saves boasts a paltry 5.23 goals against average this season and has yet to allow an opponent to crack 10 goals in a game.
In front of her on defense is last season's IWLCA Defender of the Year, Taylor Thornton, along with multi-year contributors Lacey Vigmostad and Christy Turner. Now in her senior season, Vigmostad turned in a stellar all-around effort in NU's home-opener Oregon, collecting a career-best six ground balls while adding four caused turnovers and her fourth goal of the year.
Last year, the Wildcats ranked eighth in the nation with an 8.57 goals against average.
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.
Have You Noticed?
Northwestern has limited opponents to fewer than 10 goals in 11 of its last 12 games dating to last season, with the lone exception coming in its 11-10 victory over North Carolina in last year's NCAA semifinal contest. The last time a team scored more than 10 goals against the 'Cats was April 24, 2011, when Northwestern defeated Stanford, 12-11.
Thinking Big Picture
Northwestern remains in the midst of one of the most remarkable runs in modern collegiate athletics having reached the national championship game in seven straight seasons, bringing home the title six times. Since the start of the 2005 season, the Wildcats are 151-7 in all games, including a 71-1 mark at home. Northwestern is 39-2 against ALC foes in that span and has not lost a home game to a conference opponent since May 6, 2004.
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 (10 games) 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 1-888-GO-PURPLE or click here to order your tickets today.
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