This weekend’s game against Florida signals a transition period for Northwestern. It marks the final regular season contest for the senior class, which includes attackers Danielle Spencer and Katrina Dowd, two of the most accomplished players in school history.
The game also concludes the first regular season for the freshman class, a group that will be looked to more come tournament time.
And if history is any indication, this is when future stars are born.
“Every single year in our program we’ve had freshmen make a major impact by tournament time,” coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “I can think back to 2006, and Hilary Bowen and Hannah Nielsen-that was when they made their first mark. Katrina Dowd in 2007 was huge in the championship game. It has been a consistent theme for us and it needs to be even more consistent going into this year because we have a smaller team and we need everyone to be on alert and passionate about the cause.”
Against then-No. 8 Vanderbilt last weekend, a trio of freshmen flashed their potential, helping the second-ranked Wildcats (13-1), demolish the Commodores, 27-9. The three freshmen, Erin Fitzgerald, Amanda Macaluso and Ali Cassera, combined for nine goals on 10 shots.
Spencer said after the win the freshmen “have been giving heart every day, working their butts off every day.” Though Fitzgerald and Macaluso earned starting roles last weekend, Amonte Hiller stressed every position is open for the taking.
She also said at this point in the season the team can’t afford to have its freshmen playing like freshmen.
“At the beginning you’re intimidated because you’re a freshman, and now at this point we’re basically sophomores,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re full of confidence and we take the ball to the goal. The older girls helped with that a lot. We learned a lot from them in fall ball.”
Dowd said she fed off the energy provided by players like Cassera who are among the first to come off the bench when other players get fatigued. Cassera, who has played in all 14 of NU’s games this season and has scored 12 goals, said she tries to rejuvenate the rest of the team and provide a spark when her name is called.
“We can’t play like freshmen, because when we’re out there we’re playing like the seniors who have taught us from day one,” Cassera said. “We have to embody all the lessons and the things they’ve taught us since my first day here. Playing like a freshman is not an option anymore.”
NU’s opponent tonight, No. 4 Virginia, is one of several squads jockeying for position atop the national rankings. The Cavaliers, who beat North Carolina in overtime, were the first team to knock off the Tar Heels this season. North Carolina then defeated Maryland and NU, propelling itself to the No. 1 ranking. But it would not last long, as the Terrapins got their revenge in the ACC Tournament by taking down the Tar Heels, 10-5.
That win narrowly gave Maryland the top spot ahead of NU. North Carolina fell to third, and Virginia is fourth. With teams across the country rising and falling, Amonte Hiller hopes her message of consistency resonates even more with her players.
“We’ve proven that we can come back from a loss, but we haven’t proven that we can be a consistent team, and that’s the challenge for this weekend,” Amonte Hiller said. “Can you bring that same effort for more than one day?”
Fortunately for the Cats, the Cavaliers have lacked consistency this season as well, losing games to Loyola, James Madison and twice to Maryland. Amonte Hiller said Virginia has done well in spite of injuries and expects a heated contest under the lights on the lakefront.
“They’re a storied program,” Amonte Hiller said. “I’m expecting a great battle. Hopefully people will come out and watch because it’ll be a showcase of top-level lacrosse.”[email protected]
