In "Romeo and Juliet," Shakespeare wrote, "What’s in a name?"

Whatever the Bard’s answer, Northwestern has found something in the name "Lauren."

Senior sabreists Lauren Dunn and Lauren Van Gieson, two former NCAA qualifiers, will lead the No. 6 Wildcats into the NU Duals on Saturday and Sunday at the Sports Pavilion and Aquatics Center.

Since coming to NU, the two Laurens have benefited from two big fans — each other.

"She’s one of my closest friends," Van Gieson said of Dunn. "She makes going to practice fun."

"She’s definitely one of my good friends," Dunn said. "(She’s) a good leader, cares about her teammates, a lot of fun to hang out with."

They’re such good friends, they said they will be taking a spring break trip to Las Vegas with co-captain and senior epeeist Kelsey Nencheck.

But first thing’s first.

"I hope first of all that the team succeeds," Van Gieson said of a sabre squad that went 29-4 last year.

Dunn said she thinks her 9-0 saber squad can go undefeated despite its tough schedule.

"It’s going to be really, really hard and we’re going to have to work really hard in practice," she said. "But it’s definitely possible."

Individually, both fencers hope they will experience their own version of March Madness at the NCAA Championships in Houston.

Dunn, who qualified for the NCAAs her freshman year but missed out on the last two, said she faces a tough task in getting back.

"If I didn’t make it the past two years, it’s going to be really hard to make it this year," she said. "But … with hard work, anything’s possible."

Van Gieson, who last year finished 14th and one win away from All-America status, has her sights set on more.

"I just want to become All-American," she said. "First, obviously, I just want to qualify, but my ultimate goal — always, since like the beginning of time — has been … to be All-American."

The two Laurens said they expect each other to succeed.

"I think she’s going to kick a lot of butt," Dunn said about Van Gieson. "I don’t think there’s any goal she can’t accomplish."

"I think she’ll do really, really well," Van Gieson said of Dunn. "She always does well."

Schiller said he sees no reason why the two can’t make it to Houston.

"(They) have a great chance to go back," he said. "It is up to them to win the bouts to get there."

The Laurens’ and the rest of the Wildcats’ road to Houston begins in Evanston this weekend, where NU expects a good showing.

"We’re a stronger team than any of the teams we’re going to see," Schiller said. "Our hope is to run the table."

Schiller said he considers Temple and North Carolina to be NU’s toughest challengers.

"If you don’t pay attention, they’ll bite you in the butt," he said.

But the Laurens expect to start their journey the right way.

"We should definitely go undefeated," Dunn said.

"I think we’re going to dominate," Van Gieson said.

Reach Patrick Dorsey at [email protected].