Wildcats win showdown of top teams
Northwestern's 12-7 win over No. 2 Maryland solified the Wildcats' top spot -- and signified a passing of the torch.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern had all the motivation in the game's story lines: For the first time in the history of its storied program, Maryland women's lacrosse -- Wildcats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller's alma mater -- traveled out to Evanston. It was Maryland alum vs. Maryland alum, and more important to the two-time defending champions, it was No. 1 vs. No. 2.
And in the 12-7 win Monday over the historical powerhouse Terrapins, the Wildcats played like a team headed for a three-peat.
The Terrapins gave the Wildcats the most trouble they had all season, as Northwestern had to fight hard through a physical game.
So was this 1 vs. 2 matchup a preview to the national championship game?
The coaches danced around the question when asked, but Maryland defender Becky Clipp didn't hesitate in saying what everyone else knew was the answer.
"Absolutely," the preseason All-American said.
As they solidified their top ranking, the Wildcats looked like a different team than the first squad that Amonte Hiller took to the finals. They proved against Maryland that they're more balanced, experienced, and most important, used to being on top. And Maryland coach Cathy Reese said the more balanced squad was even more dangerous -- especially with goalie Morgan Lathrop, who shutdown a number of what looked like sure goals.
Faced with an onslaught of Maryland shots in the beginning of the first half, sophomore Lathrop proved the hero for the Wildcats. She held a shutout until the ninth minute, giving her team time to build up a 3-0 lead before Maryland's Dana Dobbie put her team on the board. It didn't get any easier for the Terrapins after that. Lathrop grabbed 14 saves against what the Wildcats called one of the toughest motion offenses they've seen all season.
Lathrop's no stranger to clutch saves. Amonte Hiller put her in as a freshman in the semifinal game of the NCAA Tournament against Duke last season, and the Wildcats have pointed to her as the team's defensive stalwart since.
"She was unreal," senior Aly Josephs said. "She had hands-down the best game on the field today."
Lathrop had some help from her offense, particularly Kristen Kjellman, who grabbed control after Maryland narrowed the Wildcats lead down to one with two back-to-back goals. Kjellman took over the game with two back-to-back goals in the fifth minute of the second half. From there it was all Northwestern.
Although the Wildcats ran out onto the field with the most enthusiasm they've shown after a win all season, they stressed they aren't about to let down their guard as they travel to Johns Hopkins this weekend. And they certainly aren't counting Maryland out of the running to steal their crown yet: Josephs said the physical defense was one of the toughest they faced.
"It was by far the most physical game we've played all season," Josephs said. "They have really good man-on-man defense and that's what a lot of us like because you can just cut through and take them one-on-one, but they were really good on the backcheck, so we had to protect well."
While Maryland is ready for a rematch, Amonte Hiller said she was just enjoying the win over her alma mater, which will have to stick with her old teammate for at least two years -- unless they meet in the NCAA Tournament.
It's clear after this win that the Terrapins, a one-time unquestioned lacrosse powerhouse when Amonte Hiller and Reese played there, might be passing on the dynasty title to a team poised to win its third championship.
"I think Kelly's team is a reflection is a lot of her," Reese said. "She's done a great job of coaching her players and they have strong stick skills, they're very fast, very athletic, very aggressive and overall a great combination of players that has done an outstanding job the past few years and especially this year. They're looking really good."
Nina Mandell is a senior at Northwestern University.
