#11 Wildcats Open Season at Home versus Canisius, Detroit

Saturday, February 10

Evanston, Ill.

1 p.m.

Northwestern

Canisius

Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera

#11 Wildcats Open Season at Home versus Canisius, Detroit

2/9/2018 8:14:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Saturday, Feb. 10	Canisius	1 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN2Go	NUSports
Sunday, Feb. 11	Detroit	2 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN2Go	NUSports
Social: Twitter (@NULax and @NU_SportsLive) \| Instagram (@NU_Lax) \| Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. — The Northwestern lacrosse program will brave the elements of winter storm Mateo to kick off its 2018 season with contests versus Canisius and Detroit at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium this weekend.

The 11th-ranked Wildcats will battle the Golden Griffins on Saturday at 1 p.m. before taking on the Titans Sunday afternoon at 2. Both games will be streamed live on the BTN2Go app and tickets are available through NUSports.com.

An in-depth, position-by-position break down of the 2018 Wildcats is below.

ATTACK
Granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA, senior Danita Stroup looks to lead the attack in her final season as a Wildcat. Last year, Stroup ranked second on the team with 42 goals, scoring in all but three games. She posted 10 multi-goal games, including a career-high six goals in wins at Ohio State and over Albany in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Stroup returns to the 'Cats after a summer as a member of the Canadian National Team, contributing to their silver medal finish at the FIL Rathbone's Women's Lacrosse World Cup.

Also returning for her final season is senior Shelby Fredericks. An IWLCA West/Midwest All-Region Second Team honoree last season and Inside Lacrosse Preseason First-Team All-American, Fredericks led the Wildcats in assists, and was recognized as the most dominant draw control specialist in the country. Her 165 draw controls set a Northwestern single-season record, and this season could lead to a school record for career draw controls.

After missing all but four games last year due to injury, redshirt junior Selena Lasota is ready to return to her position as the team's top scorer. In her sophomore season, Lasota led the team with 67 points, 127 shots, and 93 shots on goal. She became the fastest player in program history to reach 100 career goals during her sophomore season. With eight goals in just four games last season, Lasota is back from injury and was named an Inside Lacrosse Second-Team All-American.

With a breakout campaign of 19 goals last season, Nicole Beardsley looks to make an impact in her senior season. Beardsley enters the season on a nine-game goal streak, tallying 16 of her 19 goals last season in the final nine games of the year. She recorded six multi-goal games during the stretch.

After earning All-American honors last season as a defender, junior Claire Quinn will move to opposite end of the field and play primarily on attack this season. Quinn showed an ability as an offensive threat with a career-high four goals in the Wildcats' NCAA first round victory over Albany last season. She led the team with 36 caused turnovers and 45 ground balls last season.

Junior Holly Korn will look to make her mark on the attack as well. Korn, a transfer from Colgate University, walked on to the team last year as a backup goalkeeper, appearing in three wins over Ohio State, Rutgers, and Albany.

Providing further depth on attack will be junior Leighton Yenor and sophomores Meghan Duffy and Sara Szynal. Duffy's six goals for the season were second among first-year attackers, following only Liza Elder, who will miss the 2018 season due to injury. First year Brianna Stroup, the younger sister of senior Danita Stroup, and redshirt first year Claire Smith will also look to crack the NU lineup in their first season of action.

MIDFIELD
Redshirt senior Sheila Nesselbush and sophomore Megan Kinna return as starters for the Wildcats, and will look to lead a relatively young group of newcomers in the midfield.

Nesselbush returned fro injury and started 20 games last season, scoring 20-plus goals for the second time in her career while finishing second on the team with 32 ground balls. She is the team's active career leader with 103 ground balls. Kinna debuted as a Wildcat last season by leading all first-year players with 11 goals, four assists, 15 points, 30 ground balls, 19 caused turnovers and 13 draw controls before helping Team Canada earn a silver medal at the FIL Rathbones World Championships.

Junior Emily Stein, who cracked the lineup last season after injuries held her out for two seasons, and classmates Olivia Harpel and Kim Harker will provide veteran leadership in the midfield. Sophomore Lindsey McKone is also back for the 'Cats after appearing in 18 games and making four starts last season. McKone had four goals, three assists and 12 ground balls in her debut season.

Coach Hiller will look to a stable of first-year midfielders with athleticism to provide key depth from end to end. The NU midfield includes nine newcomers, including Lauren Gilbert, Ally Palermo, Jill Girardi, Megan Gordon, Taylor Pinzone, Brennan Dwyer, Kate Copeland, Kate Paliotta and Caroline Tatsuoka.

DEFENSE/GOALKEEPERS
Contributing to this year's defensive core is senior Lindsay Darrell. After transitioning from midfield to defense as a junior, Darrell looks to build on her defensive successes that led to Big Ten All-Tournament Team honors last season. With 26 ground balls on the season, and at least two in nine games, Darrell's play helped the 'Cats to a league-leading 362 ground balls. Darrell and her defensive teammates will have to fill in for the absence of senior Claire Quinn, who will make the move to attack this season after contributing 43 ground balls and 35 caused turnovers on defense last year.

Joining Darrell on defense are senior Ally Mueller and junior Nell Copeland. As well as recording 19 ground balls and causing five turnovers, Mueller has been the 'Cats' primary face guard defender each of her first three seasons. Copeland started all 21 games last season, and set individual career highs with 18 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Her nine draw controls are tied with Darrel's for the most from a returning defender.

After a season-ending injury just seven games into the year, senior Shannon Nesselbush will make return to the field this spring. In those seven games, Nesselbush was able to grab nine ground balls and cause a pair of turnovers, and this season will see her looking to improve on her 26 ground balls and ten caused turnovers from her sophomore campaign.

Hoping to make her mark on the defense this year is Ivy Arlia, who tallied two ground balls and two caused turnovers in nine appearances last season. Providing further depth on defense is senior Tara Chelios, along with redshirt first-years Carli Harpel and Riley Johnston, who will look to make their season debuts for the Wildcats. Rounding out the defensive squad is first-year Carson Copeland, who will join twin Kate and older sister Nell on the 'Cats this year.

Goalkeeper Mallory Weisse returns from a record-breaking season of 169 saves last year, leading the Big Ten and setting a Northwestern single-season high. Weisse goes into her junior year with a streak of 42 games played, starting every game in her collegiate career. However, newcomer Julie Krupnick will also look to make her start this season. Although she missed the previous season due to injury, Krupnick's 543 career saves in high school and All-American status will lead to a tight competition in the cage.