Northwestern University Athletics
Fourth-Ranked 'Cats Open #B1G Play vs. Top-Ranked Terps
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
| 2015 Northwestern Lacrosse -- GameEight |
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| No. 4 Northwestern (5-2) vs. No. 1 Maryland (9-0) | |
| Date | Thursday, March 26 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Gametracker | NUSports.com |
| Live Stream | BTN2GO |
| T.V. | Big Ten Network; Mike Wolf (Play-by-Play), Courtney Connor (color) |
| Social Media | @NU_SportsLIVE  | @NULax | Facebook  |
| Game Notes | Northwestern | Maryland |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- March 26, 2015 is finally here. The fourth-ranked Northwestern Lacrosse program will host defending national champion and top-ranked Maryland on Thursday in the first-ever lacrosse contest in Big Ten history. The meeting will be the 15th between the two storied programs, but the first in the regular season since 2007. The Wildcats and Terrapins have met six times in the NCAA Tournament since the last regular season meeting on April 16, 2007 - a game the `Cats won, 12-7.
The game is the third in a four-game homestand for the Wildcats and the second of four straight that will air on the Big Ten Network. Opening draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
The Cream of the Crop
The Wildcats and Terrapins have been two of the most successful programs in NCAA history and recent past, combining to win nine of the last 10 national championships. Northwestern claimed five straight from 2005-09 before the Terrapins ended the streak with a national title of their own in 2010. After back-to-back titles by the `Cats in 2011 - a 8-7 win over the Terps - and 2012, Maryland defeated the `Cats in the NCAA semifinals last season en route to their 11th national title in program history.
Wildcats Unveil New Unis
Chicago's Big Ten Team will wear its `Northwestern Gothic' uniforms for the first time Thursday night. The Under Armour uniforms were created to reflect the most beautiful college campus in the nation, and the University it surrounds. The black-purple-gold color scheme is a nod to the schools' colors of "purple and `old gold'" before the University adopted purple as its only official color. `Northwestern' is spelled out on the front of the jersey in a typeface taken from the signs that are ubiquitous on the Evanston campus, with the distinctive spoked `T'. The arches on the shoulder and shorts are reflective of the architecture throughout campus, especially the Deering Library. Both the jersey and the shorts have ivy detailing like so many of the structures throughout the university.
Check out all the detail in each piece of the `Northwestern Gothic' uni for Thursday's @B1GLacrosse opener! pic.twitter.com/8NxQGV0XHF
-- Northwestern Lax (@NULax) March 24, 2015
Don't Mess With Mupo
Senior Kara Mupo returned to the field on Sunday vs. Syracuse after missing two games to injury by matching her career high of five goals for the second time this season. A member of the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, Mupo scored four goals in the first half alone and led the way to the `Cats defeating then fifth-ranked Syracuse, 11-10.
Stone Walled
Since being named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, senior goalkeeper Bridget Bianco has been nothing short of amazing in the cage. Bianco made 10 saves in the Wildcats' 11-10 win over Syracuse on Sunday, marking her third-straight game with double-digit saves. She made a season-high 13 saves at UNC on Feb. 28 before recording 12 in a win over Colorado on March 7. In total, Bianco has 35 saves over her last three contests with a save percentage of .555.
Scouting the Terrapins
The top-ranked Terps enter Thursday's game with a perfect 9-0 record and nation-long 19-game winning streak. The defending national champions are led by ninth-year head coach Cathy Reese, a former teammate of Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller at Maryland. Reigning Tewaaraton Award winner Taylor Cummings leads the Terps in every major stat category, including goals (28), assists (14), points (42), shots (42), ground ball (15), draw controls (62) and caused turnovers (17). Freshman Megan Whittle is tied for the team lead with 28 goals, while goalkeeper Alex Fitzpatrick - a transfer from Lehigh - has started all eight games while boasting a 6.20 goals-against average and .521 save percentage.
@NULax Gameday At-A-Glance
Game details, series history, facts, figures and more to get you set for Northwestern's matchup versus No. 1 Maryland...
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