May 23, 2006
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May 26, 2006 - 6 p.m. ET
NCAA Finals
#4 seed Northwestern (18-1) vs. #1 seed Duke (18-2)
Nickerson Field - Boston, Mass.
Radio: WNUR (89.3 FM) WNUR.org & NUsports.com's All Access
Championship Page
EVANSTON, Ill. - Making their second straight trip to the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four, the fourth-seeded and top-ranked Northwestern Wildcats (18-1) continue their national title defense at 6 p.m. ET this Friday when they take on top-seeded Duke (18-2)-the only team to knock off the Wildcats this season-at Boston University's Nickerson Field. Win, and Northwestern would get the winner of No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 7 Dartmouth at Noon ET Sunday, May 28. The championship game will be broadcast live on CSTV (channel 610 on DirecTV and 152 Dish Network). All Northwestern games can be heard on WNUR 89.3 FM and via NUsports.com's All-Access.
Northwestern is 8-6 all-time in the NCAA Championship and 7-1 in the modern era under head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. (see page 2)
This is NU's third straight year playing in the NCAA Championship. Last year, the Wildcats received the ALC's automatic bid en route to the national title and a perfect 21-0 mark. Overall, this is the Wildcats' eighth NCAA bid, receiving five during the first era of lacrosse from 1982-92.
The Wildcats boast six players with 31 or more goals on the year who make up 83 percent of NU's scoring. Kristen Kjellman leads with 68 goals, Aly Josephs is second with 49 while Lindsay Munday is third with 43 goals and team-best 48 assists. Laura Glassanos and Sarah Albrecht and freshman Meredith Frank round out the top scorers with 40, 32 and 31 goals, respectively.
Making More History
Northwestern is trying to become the first Wildcat team to win back-to-back NCAA team titles in school history. Last year, in just their fourth year back as a varsity team, NU became the first school to win an NCAA team title since 1941. They also became the first team outside of the Eastern Time Zone to win an NCAA Lacrosse title, male or female, at any level.
The Series With Duke
The Blue Devils have a slight edge in the all-time series, 2-1, and won the previous meeting this season in Durham, N.C. 16-10-a loss that snapped Northwestern's 31-game win streak back on April 7.
Wake Up Call
After scoring a season-low 10 goals and having their 31-game win streak snapped in the loss at Duke on April 7, the rejuvenated 'Cats have been playing like a team reborn over their last eight games. They are 8-0 since that game-including five wins over ranked opponents-and are outscoring their opponents 137-62, an average of just under 10 goals per game.
Kjellman Named One of Five Finalists for Tewaaraton Award
For the second straight year, midfielder Kristen Kjellman is once again one of the top 5 finalists for this year's 2006 Tewaaraton Award, the Heisman Trophy of Lacrosse. Kjellman is currently fourth in the nation in draw controls (4.68) fifth in goals per game (3.58) and sixth in points (4.89). Kjellman anchors an offense that leads the nation with 16.59 goals per game and leads the team with 68 goals.
Noting The 'Cats
Northwestern is 53-3 in its last 56 games. Its only losses came in overtime in 2004 to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale, against Virginia in 2004 in the NCAA Tournament and this year at Duke on April 7.
Northwestern is in just its fifth year back as a varsity program. The Wildcats also fielded a varsity team from 1982-92.
The Wildcats started the 2006 season on a tear, winning their first 10 games before their 31-game win streak was snapped with a 16-10 loss at Duke on April 7. Since then, the revitalized 'Cats have won eight in a row, five against ranked opponents, and have outscored the opposition 137-62, a difference of 10 goals per game.
In the win over UNC last Saturday, Northwestern tied the school's single-season record for assists in a season with 158. They also are two points away from breaking the record of 475 points set last season.
With 315 goals this season, Northwestern is two shy of tying the record for most goals scored in a season which is 317 set last year.
Kristen Kjellman is just the second Wildcat in program history to record 50 goals in three straight seasons-she has 68 so far this season. Kjellman is the first to accomplish that feat since Kathleen Kochmansky did it from 1982-84. Kjellman scored 53 as a freshman and 59 last season. With a solid effort in the NCAA finals, she could end up breaking the NU single-season record for goals in a season which is 76, held by Kate Oleykowski (1987).
In only her junior season, Kjellman ranks in the top 3 in goals, assists and points on NU's all-time lists. She is in sole possession of third place with 180 goals, 74 assists and 254 total points. She leads the Wildcats this season with 68 goals to compliment 25 assists, including a six-goal, one-assist performance in the win at Penn March 7 and four five-goal performances vs. Ohio, at Duke vs. North Carolina in April and vs. Denver.
Kjellman had her 16th game with a hat trick or better in the win over UNC last Saturday.
With 48 dishes, Lindsey Munday is six assists shy of her own single-season mark for assists in a season (54). She enters the NCAA finals with 48.
NU is on pace to shatter the school and NCAA record for goals per game in a season which stands at 15.1. The Wildcats currently average 16.59 per game. The NCAA record is 16.1 set by Gannon in 1997.
NU has won 20 straight home games dating to the end of the 2004 season. The NCAA record is held by Maryland who won 22 home matches in a row during their record NCAA record 50-game win streak (1993-96).
The Wildcats, first in the nation in scoring at 16.59 goals per game and scoring margin (+8.41), have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 315-153. Northwestern's largest win was a 19-3 win over Ohio University in Evanston March 4. They have allowed 10 or more goals just five times this year. NU has scored in double digits each game and have scored 13 or more in all but one.
The Wildcats boast six players with 31 or more goals on the year who make up 83 percent of NU's scoring. Kristen Kjellman leads with 68 goals, Aly Josephs is second with 49 while Lindsay Munday is third with 43 goals and team-best 48 assists. Laura Glassanos and Sarah Albrecht and freshman Meredith Frank round out the top scorers with 40, 32 and 31 goals, respectively.
Last Time Out
Trailing by two late in the first half, Northwestern regrouped after a timeout and went on a 14-1 run to end the game as the Wildcats earned their second straight trip to the NCAA Division I Lacrosse Finals with a 17-6 win Saturday over No. 5-seed North Carolina (13-6). Aly Josephs led NU with four goals followed by Kristen Kjellman and Meredith Frank with three each. The Tar Heels scored four straight goals to take a 5-3 lead 27 minutes in. After a timeout, the Wildcats played like the team we know and love, scoring three goals in the final two minutes of the half to take a 6-5 lead and take the wind out of the Tar Heels. The second period was all Wildcats as NU outscored UNC 11-1, outshot them 18-6, held an 11-5 advantage on ground balls, 10-3 on draw controls while committing just four turnovers compared to nine in the first half. Morgan Lathrop was on top of her game once again in goal, making one incredible save after another. She finished with 10 saves on the day.
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