Feb. 24, 2009
Northwestern Lacrosse Weekly Release - Feb. 24 
Opening Draw
Northwestern continues its season-opening road trip, heading south for a pair of games against top-10 opponents. The Wildcats open up their American Lacrosse Conference season at 10th-ranked Vanderbilt in Nashville Friday, then take on eighth-ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill Sunday.
Wildcats on the Web
Northwestern fans can follow every Wildcat goal online this weekend, as live stats for both games against Vanderbilt and North Carolina will be available. Additionally, the showdown with the Tar Heels is being broadcast live at ACCSelect.com.
Scouting the Commodores
No. 10 Vanderbilt is 1-1 on the season, bouncing back from a tough 14-13 overtime loss to North Carolina in the season opener to roll past UMBC 15-6 Sunday. The Commodores, who were picked to finish second in the American Lacrosse Conference preseason poll, have been led by junior Sarah Downing's nine points (7G, 2A) in the early going, with freshmen Ally Carey (4G, 4A) and Alex Priddy (5G, 1A) getting their collegiate careers off to fast starts as well. Senior Cara Giordano (4G, 1A) and junior Allie Frank (1G, 4A) have also jumped out to quick starts for Vandy. Defensively, junior Laura Keenan has taken control of the backfield, scooping up five ground balls and winning five draw controls while causing four turnovers, and has also notched a goal and three assists. The Dores have used a pair of goalkeepers in junior Rachel Woolford and freshman Natalie Wills, who have a combined 20 saves between the two. Head coach Cathy Swezey is in her 11th season in Nashville, posting a career record of 93-88 (.514).
Scouting the Tar Heels
Eighth-ranked North Carolina is off to a 3-0 start thanks in part to victories over Oregon and Richmond this past weekend in Chapel Hill. Junior Megan Bosica leads the Tar Heels in points in the early going with 11 (6G, 5A), while sophomore Corey Donohoe leads UNC in goals with nine. Junior Jenn Russell has also cracked the double-digit point plateau for the Heels, netting eight goals and adding a pair of assists while also leading North Carolina with seven caused turnovers. The defensive backfield is anchored by preseason All-American Amber Falcone, who already has scooped up 10 ground balls and caused five turnovers through three games this season, while also adding a goal and an assist on offense. Junior goalkeeper Logan Ripley has played all but five minutes in net for the Tar Heels, recording 16 saves on the year with a .364 save percentage and a 9.35 goals against average. Jenny Levy is in her 14th season in Chapel Hill and is 164-74 (.689) at the helm of the Heels.
Series Information
Northwestern and Vanderbilt meet for the ninth time Friday with the Wildcats holding a 5-3 series advantage, including a five-game winning streak. The ALC rivals met twice last season, both times in Evanston, with NU taking a 14-8 decision in the regular season, then following it up with a 14-3 win in the American Lacrosse Conference finals. Northwestern is 2-1 all-time in Nashville, notching a 20-2 victory over the Commodores in 2007. Sunday's game is the sixth meeting between the Wildcats and Tar Heels. NU has won four of the previous five meetings, including a 16-3 thumping in Evanston last season thanks to three goals each from Hannah Nielsen and Danielle Spencer. The `Cats are 1-1 all-time in Chapel Hill, with UNC taking a 9-8 overtime decision back in 2007 the last time the two teams met at Fetzer Field.
Nielsen Continues to Close In On NCAA Assist Record
Coming off her NCAA-record 10-assist outing against Duquesne and an additional four at Notre Dame, Hannah Nielsen continues to draw closer to becoming the all-time assist leader in NCAA history. Nielsen, who already sits atop the Wildcat record books, surpassed Mary Key for second-place all-time, upping her career total to 157, and now trails fellow Australian Jen Adams by just 21 helpers for tops all-time. Nielsen is tied for the single-season assist record, dishing out 69 in 2007, and has amassed an impressive 148 since the beginning of her sophomore season.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern wraps up its five-game season-opening 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, with proceeds from both the game and the banquet benefitting the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at increasing awareness and improving the quality of life of those afflicted with pediatric brain tumors. More information on the game or on the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation can be found at friendsofjaclyn.org.
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