Duke ended one of the longest win streaks in college sports history, leaving a black eye on Northwestern’s otherwise blemish-free 2006 season.
But today NU will get a chance to avenge its April 7 loss against the top-seeded Blue Devils (18-2).
The fourth-seeded Wildcats (18-1) have kept that loss in their back of their minds all season and know the stakes are much higher in the NCAA semifinals.
“We have more of a sense of urgency, and that’s what we need,” coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “We got that after the (April 7) loss, and we’ve kind of sustained it throughout the rest of our games. And that’s really what we need is a sense of urgency from the first whistle to the last whistle.”
Today’s game, which will be played at Boston University’s Nickerson Field, features the nation’s two best offenses. Both teams average more than 15 goals per game.
But the Cats have the advantage in both ground balls and draw controls, ranked 20th and fourth respectively in the nation. Duke is No. 40 in the nation in ground balls and it does not even crack the top 50 on draw controls.
“We definitely did not play well at all (last time), so we’re definitely just really happy to have another shot at Duke,” said senior midfielder Lindsey Munday. Who leads the team with 48 assists on the season, helping her post 91 points. “And if it happens that we do win, then it’s a whole other game on Sunday because it’s the national championship. Everyone’s going to go out with all they’ve got.”
The Cats’ potent offense, led by junior midfielder Kristen Kjellman who has notched a team-high 68 goals and 93 points, will be tested by Blue Devils goalie, senior Megan Huether. She enters today’s game with the nation’s third best goals against average of 7.2 per game.
In the opposite goal, freshman Morgan Lathrop will anchor the Cats’ defense. Lathrop was pulled at halftime the previous time Duke and NU met after allowing 11 goals on 15 shots.
“Against Duke in our previous game, we didn’t get many stops,” Amonte Hiller said. “When they attacked us, they scored. We didn’t get many stops from (Lathrop), nor from our defense. So I think we’re much improved since that game.”
There are some aspects of the magnitude of today’s game that cannot be measured by statistics, but maybe uniform accessories would be more appropriate.
Since their loss to the Blue Devils, the Wildcats have been wearing blue bracelets to remind them of how they felt after that loss.
And today Duke will be wearing armbands with the word “innocent” on them in support of their troubled men’s lacrosse team – a controversial move that has drawn national media attention.
“If there is an extra sense of responsibility it is something our team has been proud to have,” Duke coach Kerstin Kimel said during a media teleconference Tuesday. “Our emotions have been pretty high most of the season with what has transpired with our men’s program. Anytime we have a chance to step on the field and represent Duke lacrosse, we do it with a sense of pride.”
This year’s Final Four will also be emotional for the Cats since Amonte Hiller and five players from the Boston area will celebrate a homecoming of sorts.
NU practiced at the alma mater of Amonte Hiller and senior attacker Sarah Albrecht, Thayer Academy, on Wednesday.
“I think we’ll show our character,” said senior attacker Laura Glassanos, a Boston native. Glassanos had to miss last year’s NCAA tournament due to an injury, but has posted 40 goals and 21 assists this season. “We’ll dig deep and we’re not going to show up and die.”
Ben Larrison contributed to this report.
Reach Steve Silver at [email protected].
