Top-Ranked Wildcats Travel to Syracuse to Face Fifth-Ranked Orange :: NU battles Syracuse in rematch of 2007 NCAA Quarterfinals

March 20, 2008

Opening Draw
No. 1 Northwestern (7-0) begins a grueling nine-game stretch to close out the regular season as eight of the 'Cats final nine opponents are ranked in the top-20, with five of them ranked in the top-10. First up for the Wildcats is a trip to Syracuse, N.Y., to face the fifth-ranked Orange at 6 p.m., Monday, March 24, at the Carrier Dome.

Scouting Syracuse
Fifth-ranked Syracuse sits at 6-1 on the season after routing Towson 22-5 on March 19. The Orange face Big East opponent Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome Saturday, March 22, before welcoming the Wildcats. Junior Katie Rowan has been the anchor for the defending Big East champions this year, as she leads the nation in points per game at 6.5. Rowan has netted 26 goals and added 19 assists (45 points) already this season, while sophomore Christina Dove leads the Orange in goals with 27 and sophomore Haley Quillinan has produced 25 goals and three assists for the `Cuse. The Orange are led by first year head coach Gary Gait, who knows all about winning. He was a three-time All-American and national champion at Syracuse and still holds the NCAA record for points in a career. As an assistant coach at Maryland, Gait helped lead the Terrapins to seven-straight national championships while coaching Wildcat head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller.

Series Information
This will mark the fifth meeting between Northwestern and Syracuse with the Wildcats holding a 3-1 series advantage. The teams faced off twice last season with the `Cats taking a 10-7 victory in Evanston on March 30. The two met again in the NCAA Quarterfinals on May 19 as the Wildcats prevailed 14-9 thanks to four goals apiece from juniors Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton).

NU Nets Pair of Dominating Victories
Northwestern opened up its 2008 American Lacrosse Conference schedule in Columbus, Ohio, on March 14. Thanks to runs of nine and eight unanswered goals, the Wildcats dominated Ohio State 21-5, extending its conference winning streak to 18 games. Bowen played big for NU, scoring five goals and adding three assists with junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) netting a pair of goals and registering four assists to pace the 'Cats. Northwestern faced a quick turn-around, as it returned home to face Massachusetts on March 16 at Lakeside Field. The Wildcats dominated from the opening draw and breezed to the 18-2 victory over the Minutewomen. NU broke the game open in the first half, outshooting UMass 30-2 en route to a 12-1 lead at halftime, thanks to five first-half goals from sophomore Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton). Frank recorded her first hat-trick of the season while Nielsen added a goal and three assists. Junior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Hackley School) allowed just six goals in the two wins and improved her goals against average to 5.28. The victory over the Minutewomen was the 35th-straight at home for NU and extended its overall winning streak to 28 games, three shy of the school's all-time record.

Three Away From 100
With the victories over Ohio State and Massachusetts, seventh-year Wildcat head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has compiled an impressive 97-23 record with the 'Cats and sits just three victories shy of 100. The reigning four-time American Lacrosse Conference Coach of the Year is Northwestern's all-time leader in victories and winning percentage (.807) and has led the 'Cats to three-straight 20-plus win seasons.

Bowen Earns Player of the Week Honors
Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) was named the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC) Player of the Week by the conference office for the week of March 10. Bowen played a key role in helping the top-ranked Wildcats to a 21-5 victory over Ohio State on March 14 in the conference opener, registering five goals and adding three assists. The win over the Buckeyes extended Northwestern's conference winning streak to 18 games. Bowen followed up that performance with a pair of goals and an assist in helping NU breeze past Massachusetts 18-2 on March 16 at Lakeside Field. Through the first seven games of the season, Bowen leads the team in goals (31) and is tied for first in points (39) with teammate Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary). She is also ranked third nationally in both goals and assists, and is tied with Nielsen for fifth in the nation in points per game (5.57). Bowen becomes the second Wildcat to receive Player of the Week honors after Nielsen captured the award on March 3.

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