March 21, 2006
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Fresh off a convincing 21-12 win over 14th-ranked Notre Dame on Sunday, the Northwestern women's lacrosse team (6-0, 1-0 ALC) will now take its No.1 ranking and 27-game win streak to the Golden State where they will take on California and No.20 Stanford. The Wildcats will take on the Golden Bears at 5:30 p.m. CT Thursday, March 23 in Berkeley, Calif. and Stanford at 3 p.m. CT Saturday in Palo Alto, Calif.
The Wildcats came out on top both games last season, defeating the Golden Bears 18-6 (March 20) and Stanford 16-3 (April 8)-both in Evanston.
NU spouts four players with at least 14 goals this season in Kristen Kjellman (25 goals), Aly Jospehs (18), Laura Glassanos (17) and Lindsey Munday (14)-all of whom have accounted for more than 74 percent of NU's scoring this season. Freshman Morgan Lathrop has anchored a defense that has allowed just 7.1 goals per game this season. She is 5-0 on the year with 30 saves.
UNC Game Time Change
The Friday, April 21 home game with North Carolina which was originally scheduled for 4 p.m. has been changed to a 3:30 start. That game, along with the four remaining games after Sunday's Notre Dame game, will be played at the Lakeside Field at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex.
Total Domination
Through its six wins this season, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 104-43, an average of more than 10 goals per game (17.3 to 7.1). Northwestern's largest win was a 19-3 waxing of Ohio University in Evanston March 4. They have allowed 10 or more goals just once this year and have trailed only twice all season-falling behind 4-0 in the season opener at No. 9 Maryland before reeling off seven-consecutive goals en route to a 13-8 win and trailed by four early in the game against Notre Dame, only to go on a 13-1 run from that point on to secure the win. The Wildcats also scored the first 17 goals of the game in the 18-3 win over Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Feb. 26.
Scouting California
The Golden Bears are 3-3 (as of March 20) on the year with wins over Stanford, Ohio State and Colgate and losses to Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Cornell. California hosts the Ohio Bobcats Tuesday, March 21. Danni Zuralow leads the Cal attack with 11 goals and three assists for 14 points. Laura Cavallo and Leanne Zilioli both have nine goals each on the season. Hilary Lynch (3-3) has started all six games in goal with 65 saves compared to 77 goals allowed. Jill Malko is in her eighth year as head coach and led her team to its second straight MPSF Championship final last season. She has an 80-50 overall record as of March 20.
Scouting Stanford
The 20th-ranked Stanford Cardinal are 5-2 on the young season and are riding a three-game win streak over Vanderbilt, Columbia and Saint Mary's. It's only two defeats were by a combined four goals, dropping a 9-6 decision to California and a 12-11 overtime loss to No.14 Notre Dame. The Cardinal spout four players in double-figures in scoring, led by Daphne Patterson's 17 goals and three assists. Megan Burker leads the team overall with 16 goals and a team-best 10 assists for 26 points. Liz Piselli and Sarah Bach round out the double-figure scorers with 15 and 14 goals, respectively. Michele Uhlfelder is in her sixth season as head coach.
27 and Counting
The Wildcats have the nation's longest current win streak among Division I programs at 27 games dating to the start of the 2005 season. The record for consecutive wins is 50, held by Maryland (March 9, 1995 to April 20, 1997). NU also has won 14 straight home games dating to the end of the 2004 season. That record also is held by Maryland who won 22 home matches in a row.
Second Wind: 'Cats Take Down Irish
Trailing by as much as four and by one at the break, Northwestern kept its composure and showed why they are once again the team to beat. The Wildcats outscored 14th-ranked Notre Dame 13-3 in the final period to improve their record to 6-0 and extend their winning streak to 27 games in the 21-12 win. The Wildcats trailed by four with 7:02 left in the first period before going on a 13-1 run to take a 17-9 lead with 13:05 left in the game. Notre Dame jumped out to an 8-4 lead on the strength of three goals by Crysti Foote. It was Aly Josephs' first goal with 5:23 left in the first that propelled the run that would help the Wildcats pull away. The run was highlighted by four goals from Josephs and three from both Kristen Kjellman and Laura Glassanos. Foote's fifth goal of the game made it 17-10 with 9:26 left, but four straight goals by senior Lindsey Munday, Kjellman and Josephs over the next 1:40 put to rest any comeback ideas by the Irish. NU won the draw controls by a 12-6 margin in the second half and 23-13 for the game.
Wildcats Face Six NCAA Qualifiers
The road to defending its 2005 national title won't be an easy one as Northwestern is set to face six teams that qualified for last year's 16-team NCAA Lacrosse Championship. NU has already defeated No.9 Maryland and are still set to face Syracuse, Duke, Penn State, North Carolina and Johns Hopkins. In addition, NU has or will face 10 teams currently ranked or receiving votes in the latest IWLCA and Insidelacrosse Top 20 polls.
Munday Closing In On Assists List
Senior Lindsey Munday is two assists away from tying and three away from breaking NU's all-time record for assists. Maureen Mullen (1986-89) holds the current record with 94. Munday enters Thursday's game with Notre Dame with 92 and is averaging just over two assists per game (2.3). She had a season-high five assists in the win over Notre Dame March 19.
Elite Company
With either her next goal or assist, Lindsey Munday will become just the fourth player in the history of NU women's lacrosse to record 200 career points. She is currently fourth on the all-time list with 199 points entering Thursday's game at California. The record for career points is 289 held by Kate Oleykowski (1984-87).
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