They’re back.

The top-ranked Wildcats quickly erased an early deficit as they defeated No. 9 Maryland 13-8 Monday in College Park, Md. in the first game of the year for the defending NCAA champions.

Northwestern junior Kristen Kjellman started off her season in convincing fashion. An early favorite for the Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded each year to the country’s top lacrosse player, notched three goals and three assists in the victory. Two of Kjellman’s scores came during a decisive 7-0 NU run that put the Cats in control of the game.

“We had some moments of greatness,” NU coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “I think we also saw some things that we need to improve on, (but) I think it was, overall, a fairly good outing for our first game.”

The Cats fell behind early, succumbing to a Delia Cox-dominated attack that put Maryland ahead 4-0 in the first period. The senior midfielder had an assist on the Terps’ first goal, scored by Casey Magor, and added two goals of her own to cap Maryland’s run.

NU responded promptly to the threat. The Cats squelched Maryland’s momentum with a 7-0 tear to end the first. Led by Kjellman and junior Aly Josephs, who each scored a pair of goals in the period, the Cats entered the half on top 7-4.

“It was scary after it was 4-0,” Amonte Hiller said. “They came out hard against us. They were winning the 50-50 battles and their goalie came up huge-(but) we took a timeout when it was 4-0, and the girls regrouped.”

The Terps began the second period with two quick goals, cutting the NU lead to one. But from there the Cats took control, outscoring Maryland 6-2 to close the contest. NU senior Laura Glassanos matched Kjellman and Cox with a game-high three goals. Glassanos, who missed last year’s NCAA tournament with an injury, two scored twice in 27 seconds, giving the Cats a 9-6 lead and command of the game.

“(Glassanos) has a great appreciation for playing now that she had to sit out in critical games, so I think that definitely contributed to her coming out strong,” Amonte Hiller said. “It’s always good to have multiple people contributing, and I think that’s one of the strengths we’re going to have this year.”

The game, which was delayed from Sunday to Monday because of the snow storm that hit the East Coast over the weekend, marked Maryland alum Amonte Hiller’s return to College Park. After picking up the win against her alma mater, the NU coach said her team was playing better than last year’s squad at the same point in the season.

“It was a great win for the program,” Amonte Hiller said, “We’re psyched about 2006.”

Reach Ben Larrison at [email protected].