April 8, 2008
NU Lacrosse Weekly Release - April 8 (PDF)
Watch Wednesday's game LIVE on NUsports.com
Opening Draw
Top-ranked Northwestern (11-0) has a pair of key games this week as it hosts eighth-ranked Notre Dame at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Lakeside Field. The Wildcats then travel to University Park, Pa., to face American Lacrosse Conference opponent Penn State at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 13.
Scouting Notre Dame
Eighth-ranked Notre Dame is 9-3 on the season and has won its last four games, including a 12-8 upset of seventh-ranked Duke in Durham, N.C., on April 3. The Irish are led by sophomore Jillian Byers' 52 goals and 11 assists, while senior Caitlin McKinney has added 30 goals and 17 assists for Notre Dame. Freshman Shaylyn Blaney has been a welcome addition as well for the Irish, netting 28 goals and adding eight assists. Junior goalkeeper Erin Goodman has eclipsed the century mark in saves with 111, posting a .478 save percentage and a 10.28 goals against average. Head coach Tracey Coyne is in her 12th season at Notre Dame and 21st overall, boasting an overall record of 221-93, ranking third on the active winningest-coach list.
Scouting Penn State
Penn State is 3-8 on the season after dropping a pair of games to third-ranked Maryland and 10th-ranked North Carolina in the ACC/ALC Challenge this past weekend, although the Nittany Lions did take the Terrapins to triple overtime before falling 12-11. PSU is also 0-1 in American Lacrosse Conference play, falling to Vanderbilt 10-7 on March 23. Senior Jessi Lieb leads the Nittany Lions with 24 points (18 goals, six assists), with junior Kerry Shea contributing 19 points (17g, 2a). Senior goalkeeper Jess Boccio has a 10.4 goals against average and has made 68 saves in net for Penn State. Suzanne Isidor is in her eighth season at Penn State with a 63-67 overall mark.
Series Information
Notre Dame and Penn State are two of Northwestern's most established opponents as the Wildcats hold a 5-2 series advantage over the Irish and have won four straight, including last season's 18-10 victory in South Bend, Ind. NU has also won three of the four meetings against Notre Dame in Evanston, including a 10-8 victory in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. This will be the 11th meeting between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions with Northwestern holding a 6-4 series advantage. Northwestern has won the last five meetings between the schools including a pair of wins last season. The `Cats defeated Penn State 19-8 in Evanston and then topped the Nittany Lions 19-7 in the ALC semifinals.
U.S. Cellular Night with the 'Cats
Northwestern's showdown against eighth-ranked Notre Dame is U.S. Celluar Night with the 'Cats. The first 500 fans will receive purple U.S. Cellular beads, and NU students can bring in a t-shirt bearing another school's name or logo and exchange it for a brand new Northwestern t-shirt. In addition, one NU student will win a free Motorola RAZR phone courtesy of U.S. Cellular.
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