Feb. 6, 2009
Inside Lacrosse Northwestern Preview
Wildcat Season Preview on Palestra.net
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern continues to rack in the preseason honors, being named the preseason number one by Inside Lacrosse, adding to the top nods from Lacrosse Magazine and IWLCA. The Wildcats were also tabbed as the preseason favorite in the American Lacrosse Conference earlier in the week.
Northwestern, which returns all but two starters from last year's fourth-straight national championship team, boasts a senior-laden squad, including reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) and two-time NCAA Championship MVP Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton). Inside Lacrosse noted that experience and veteran leadership as one of the keys of this Wildcat team.
Duke claimed the second spot in the preseason poll, followed by Syracuse, Princeton and Virginia to round out the top five. Penn, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgetown and Notre Dame round out the top-10, with only the Tigers and Terrapins not on the 2009 Wildcat schedule.
The Wildcats are already 1-0 on the season after a convincing 24-6 victory over Denver on Jan. 23 as part of the Surfside Lacrosse Cup in San Diego, Calif. Northwestern also notched a 21-5 exhibition victory over the Canadian National Team. The 'Cats are now preparing for the remainder of their challenging 2009 slate, beginning with a trip to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Duquesne Tuesday, Feb. 17, before heading to South Bend, Ind., for a showdown with the 10th-ranked Irish on Friday, Feb. 20.
Inside Lacrosse Preseason Top 10
1. Northwestern
2. Duke
3. Syracuse
4. Princeton
5. Virginia
6. Penn
7. North Carolina
8. Maryland
9. Georgetown
10. Notre Dame
Teams in italics represent 2009 opponents