March 20, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - After two years of preparation and planning, the Northwestern women's lacrosse team is finally ready to host a game for the first time since 1991.
The only catch? NU's opponent, it turns out, is pretty good.
The Wildcats host Ohio State, ranked 20th in the latest IWLCA national poll, Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The game, which will be the first varsity women's lacrosse game ever on Lakeside Field, will also serve as the American Lacrosse Conference opener for both teams.
"It's the start of a whole new era," said head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "Saturday is not just an exciting day for the coaches and players involved in this program. I think it's a great day for the University and the community, as well."
Ohio State comes to Evanston boasting a perfect 4-0 record and have outscored their opponents 54-13. The Buckeyes leapt into the poll Tuesday following a 16-7 win over nationally ranked Boston University and are led by Megan Mirick, who recently became the program's all-time leading scorer with 142 points.
"I expect Ohio State to be a fast, athletic team," said Amonte Hiller. "However, we're going in with an open mind and the feeling that we can beat this team. We have nothing to lose-that's one of the best things about this season. We have the opportunity to surprise people every time we step onto the field."
Northwestern has been off for nearly two weeks since defeating Marist (March 8) and losing to Richmond (March 10). It was an eventful time for the 'Cats, though, highlighted when sophomore Angela McMahon (Weston, Mass./Weston) was named Honorable Mention Player of the Week by insidelacrosse.com. She leads the team with seven points (5 goals, 2 assists)In , while three other players-Sarah Albrecht (Braintree, Mass./Thayer Academy), Courtney Koester (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) and Jenna Gantner (Long Valley, N.J./Chester)-each have at least three goals.
Saturday's home opener kicks off a brutal stretch for the Wildcats, as it is the first of five games they will play in nine days. Saturday night, the team will jet to the East Coast for spring break. During the trip, the women will play Johns Hopkins (Tuesday), Harvard (Thursday in College Park, Md.) and Sacred Heart (Saturday). Upon returning home, the 'Cats host Virginia Tech Monday, April 1 at 11 a.m.
"Our philosophy is one game at a time," said Amonte Hiller. "If you look ahead, you tend to lose sight of your focus. But the two-week break has been great, and not just because it gave them a chance to catch up on their studies. They have been in a few games now, and so they now know the intensity they need to bring to the table in order to compete and they've done so."