Feb. 19, 2009
Wildcats at Notre Dame Game Notes 
Opening Draw
After a record setting victory over Duquesne Tuesday, the Wildcats embark on a stretch of four-straight road games against ranked opponents, beginning with 11th-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., on Friday, Feb. 20.
Wildcats on the Web
Fans unable to make it to South Bend for the game against the Irish can still follow every goal. Live streaming video of the game will be available at UND.com, and live game stats will be available at NUsports.com. WNUR radio will also broadcast the game live on 89.3 FM in the Evanston area or online at sports.wnur.org.
Scouting the Irish
Notre Dame opened up the season with a 22-7 victory over Duquesne Saturday in Pittsburgh, led by seven points from junior Gina Scioscia (4G, 3A) and four goals from sophomore Shaylyn Blaney. The Irish open up the year ranked 11th following a 12-7 finish in 2008, placing second in the Big East at 4-1. Notre Dame once again will be lead by senior All-American Jillian Byers, who paced the Irish with 81 points (67G, 14A) last season, as well as tallying a team-high 52 draw controls. Byers was named to the preseason All-Big East team, along with Blaney and senior Shannon Burke. Blaney finished second on the team with 43 goals in 2008, while Burke lead the Irish defense with 32 caused turnovers, 33 ground balls and 51 draw controls. Scioscia also returns on the Notre Dame offensive attack after setting new personal bests in both goals (20) and assists (35). In net, senior Erin Goodman looks to build on the career-high 172 saves she made in 2008, as well as her .462 save percentage and 10.74 goals against average. Tracy Coyne returns for her 13th season in South Bend, putting together a 111-77 (.590) record at the helm of the Irish, and holds a career record of 226-103 (.687) in her 22nd season as a head coach.
Series Information
Friday marks the 10th meeting between Northwestern and Notre Dame with the Wildcats holding a 7-2 series advantage, including having won the last seven games. The rivals went head-to-head twice last season, both times at Lakeside Field in Evanston, as the `Cats defeated the Irish 16-2 during the regular season, then followed it up with a 15-7 victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament, thanks to a career-best six goals from Nielsen. NU is 2-1 all-time in South Bend, with the most recent outing an 18-10 victory in 2007.
Nielsen Sets NCAA Single-Game Assist Record; Closing In On All-Time Mark
Not only did Hannah Nielsen become the first Wildcat to notch double-digit assists in a game, she became the first player in NCAA history to do so as well. Nielsen's 10 assists against Duquesne is a new NCAA single-game record, surpassing the nine that Mercyhurst's Amy Perry dished out against Fredonia State in 1999. Nielsen, who already sits atop the Wildcat record books, also surpassed Mary Key for second-place all-time in NCAA history, upping her career total to 153, and now trails fellow Australian Jen Adams by just 25 helpers for tops all-time. Nielsen is tied for the single-season assist record, dishing out 69 in 2007, and has amassed an impressive 144 since the beginning of her sophomore season.
Bowen Maintains Consecutive Goal Streak
Senior Hilary Bowen continues to establish her reputation as one of the top goal scorers in NCAA history. Bowen, the two-time NCAA Championship MVP and Wildcat single-season goal leader with 81, has registered at least one goal in 42 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. She has proven to be one of the top offensive threats in the country during that time, notching at least two goals in 37 of the 42 outings, including a career-best six three times. In addition, both Bowen and teammate Hannah Nielsen have each tallied at least one point in 46-straight games.
Four Wildcats Placed on Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List
The Tewaaraton Award Foundation has released its 45-player Tewaaraton Trophy Watch List for 2009, with four Wildcats making an appearance. Reigning trophy winner Hannah Nielsen is joined by teammates Hilary Bowen, Katrina Dowd and Meredith Frank. The Tewaaraton Tropy has taken up a somewhat permanent home in Evanston in recent years, with a Wildcat bringing home the sport's most prestigious award each of the last three seasons. Nielsen captured the honor in 2008, with former Northwestern standout Kristen Kjellman winning it in 2006 and 2007.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern continues its challenging season-opening road swing, facing three more nationally ranked opponents. The Wildcats open up their 2009 American Lacrosse Conference schedule in Nashville, Tenn., facing 12th-ranked Vanderbilt Friday, Feb. 27, before heading east for a showdown with eighth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill Sunday, March 1. NU wraps up its five-game road trip in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 7, taking on ninth-ranked Georgetown. The game against the Hoyas marks the 2009 Friends of Jaclyn Pediatric Brain Tumor Awareness Challenge. More information on the game or on the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation can be found at friendsofjaclyn.org.
For the complete game notes, click on the PDF link above.