This weekend, Northwestern’s lacrosse team heads to Towson, Md., for its fourth straight appearance in the women’s lacrosse “Final Four.” NU faces some of the toughest teams in the nation, including the only one that’s beaten them this season. Here’s a breakdown of their rivals, organized by their Friday semifinal matches.
Syracuse vs. Northwestern
Syracuse
The team has only lost twice this season: once to Virginia on the road and again to a fired-up Northwestern at home. They scored some tough road wins, and beat archrival Georgetown twice, due in part to their extremely dangerous offense — they have scored 20 or more goals 10 times this season. Their defense is usually strong too, only allowing their opponent to crack double digits six times. This is a tough draw, and Northwestern needs its best to advance to the finals.
Key player: Junior Attack Katie Rowan. Come on, Coach Hiller, why didn’t you sign her? Kidding… sort of. This woman can play. She is tied with Hannah Nielsen’s 2007 season effort for the NCAA record for assists in a single season. On top of her 69 assists, she has 73 goals! That’s more than everyone on Northwestern (Hilary Bowen is closest, with 72).
Northwestern
You know the facts: Northwestern is 19-1, it boasts the most dangerous duo in the nation in Midfielder Hannah Nielsen and Attack Hilary Bowen, and it has lost three games in four years. Northwestern can score, and has the nation’s best defender in Christy Finch, along with a top goalie in Morgan Lathrop — and the team is experienced because of its recent success. The Wildcats remain the team to beat in this tournament, and be assured that Kelly Amonte Hiller’s crew still has something to prove, even after three straight championships and a feature in Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago.
Key Player: Tough to pick, but I have to say Hannah Nielsen. The junior Australian is NU’s unquestioned leader and “quarterback” on offense. She is the most dangerous player on Northwestern’s team, and can create passes and shots that seem impossible. Honorable mention: Christy Finch, who will have to try and stop Rowan.
Prediction: Like I’d really pick Syracuse? Northwestern, baby! We’ll beat the Orange, and I predict that a few minutes in the second half where the ‘Cats elevate their game will determine the score and Northwestern will win comfortably, despite a close first half.
Penn vs. Duke
Duke comes out of the toughest lacrosse conference in the nation, the Atlantic Coast Conference. This Duke team upset rival No. 3 Maryland 9-7 last weekend on Maryland’s home field. Duke had a very difficult schedule this season, and they are survivors. Like Northwestern, this is their fourth straight trip to the national semifinals. In this difficult season, the Blue Devils have had mixed results. However, with wins over two good teams at the end of the season, they are pushing forward against a tough Penn team with a hot hand.
Key player: Goalie Kim Imbesi had 13 saves against Maryland and was nationally recognized along with leading scorer Carolyn Davis after she shut down Georgetown. She will have to play well to shut down Penn’s offense.
Penn
Penn is the other 19-1 team in the nation besides Northwestern, and hasn’t lost since the third game of the season, when they lost to Stanford on the road. Their best win of the season was against the top-ranked ‘Cats, whom they beat on the road towards the end of the season.
Penn is confident, tough, and plays great defense. They usually don’t put up a lot of goals (their highest output of the season is only 16), so their defensive excellence is pivotal to their success. They held NU to only seven goals and No. 7 Boston University to a measly five goals in their last NCAA game.
Key player: Penn’s Tarah Kirnan was an all-Ivy first-team selection, and is a standout on the Penn defense. She leads the team in ground ball controls. Getting past the Penn defense is almost impossible, and she is one big reason why.
Prediction: Penn in a close one. Penn has not been tested on the road against a really tough team in a long time — since playing Princeton in April. They will win, but it will be close.
I can’t go to the game, it’s in Towson! What do I do?
Dedicated Wildcat fan, you’ve come to the right place. I will liveblog the defending champs in their four-peat quest this weekend. Please come visit for the best live coverage this side of television!