Northwestern
Central Michigan
Lacrosse Opens NCAA Tournament against Central Michigan
5/11/2022 12:15:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
| NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAME INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | Opponent | TIME | LOCATION | Watch | Live Stats |
| Friday, May 13 | Central Michigan | 4 p.m. CT | Martin Stadium Evanston, Ill. |
ESPN+ | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NULax | Instagram: @nu_lax | |||||
EVANSTON, Ill. – The No. 6 Northwestern women's lacrosse team begins its quest for the program's eighth national championship this weekend by hosting Central Michigan in an NCAA Tournament first round game at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, May 13, at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. The Wildcats (13-4) earned the No. 4 national seed and are making their 18th consecutive NCAA appearance. ESPN+ will televise the game with Eli Berk (play-by-play) and Andrew Neville (analyst) on the call.
NCAA Tournament History
Northwestern's seven national titles are second-most in the sport's history trailing only Maryland (14). Over an eight year span from 2005 through 2012, the 'Cats claimed seven championships. This season's at large berth marks Northwestern's 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance and 18th under the leadership of head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. Since appearing in her first NCAA Tournament in 2004, Amonte Hiller holds an impressive 46-10 record in the event and a 26-0 mark in home games. Northwestern hasn't lost in the first round of the tournament since 1988. NU has reached the national semifinals in the last two NCAA Tournaments (2019, 2021).
PRESS CONFERENCE | NCAA TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
Last Time Out
Battling windy and wet conditions in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, Northwestern fell 13-5 to Rutgers in Piscataway on May 6, ending their four-game conference tournament winning streak. Jill Girardi led the Wildcat offense with two goals and four draw controls. Lauren Gilbert, Hannah Johnson and Brennan Dwyer added a goal apiece.
Season Superlatives
- First-year Samantha White headlined individual conference awards for Northwestern, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades. She is the third Wildcat to win the award, and first since Izzy Scane in 2019.
- Erin Coykendall, Lauren Gilbert, Jill Girardi and Ally Palermo earned All-Big Ten First Team honors.
- Coykendall, Gilbert, Girardi and Palermo were also named USA Lacrosse Magazine All-Americans and IWLCA All-Region First Team members.
'Cat Facts
- Northwestern has won 17 consecutive home games, the third-longest active streak in the country (North Carolina – 30, Stony Brook – 26). The Wildcats are 9-0 in home games this year: 7-0 inside Ryan Fieldhouse and 2-0 at Martin Stadium.
- From March 10 through April 16, NU went on a season-long nine-game winning streak.
- Girardi is second in the nation in draw controls per game (10.2). She has racked up 152 draws on the season, in addition to her 42 goals.
- Gilbert tops the Wildcat roster with 64 goals. She is ranked 10th nationally in both points per game (5.18) and goals per game (3.76). She is fifth in school history with 210 career goals.
- Northwestern's average of 15.7 goals per game is second in the Big Ten and 14th nationally.
- Northwestern is 6-4 against ranked opponents this season and 13-0 when scoring 12 or more goals.
Opposition Position
This will be the first meeting between Central Michigan and Northwestern. The seven-year old Chippewas (12-7) program is making its NCAA Tournament debut. After finishing Mid-American Conference play 8-2, CMU defeated Kent State 15-5 and Robert Morris 20-10, winning the league's first postseason tournament. MAC Offensive Player of the Year Audrey Whiteside has posted 40 goals and a team-high 35 assists, while Maggie Diebold's 64 goals paces the team.
Up Next
Northwestern will look to advance to the second round at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, at Martin Stadium against the winner of Friday night's Michigan versus Notre Dame contest.
