TOWSON, Md. – When Northwestern faces off against Maryland today in the NCAA Championship game, it will be more than a game between the nation’s top teams.It will be a collision between the sport’s most dominant programs.Two schools that have claimed 12 of the last 15 national championships and five of the last nine Tewaaraton Trophy winners. Two schools led by a pair of coaches-both of whom starred at Maryland-who hold the first- and fourth-highest winning percentages in NCAA history. Two schools that own the two longest NCAA tournament winning streaks, and all five of the all-time winning streaks.”Both of our teams are athletic, have good draw people, and some really exciting players offensively,” coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “So it’s going to be a great matchup.”During their respective reigns, the Wildcats (20-1) and Terrapins (21-1) have met only twice, with NU coming out on top in 2006 and 2007.”It’s very exciting because we haven’t played them,” senior attacker Danielle Spencer said. “It will be great to learn about them, and it’s a new challenge and it’s another test for our team.”Maryland won six of the schools’ eight matchups before 1995, including an 11-7 victory in the 1986 NCAA quarterfinals, marking the only time the two teams have met in the postseason.Many were looking forward to seeing the two teams square off in last year’s title contest, as both finished the regular season undefeated, but North Carolina upset Maryland in the semifinals”They lost last year in the final four, and I know from being a player how that hurts,” Amonte Hiller said. “You want to come back and you’re much more motivated and focused, and I think they’ve shown that this year in winning the ACC Championship and doing a great job to get to this championship game as well.”After losing to North Carolina on April 10, the Terrapins bulldozed their way to the ACC crown, scoring in double digits their final six games while holding their opponents to under seven goals.The Cats followed a similar progression after their lone defeat at the hands of the Tar Heels, averaging 19 points in their final five games.”We made a change after we lost to North Carolina,” Amonte Hiller said. “We made a change in the way we prepare, the way we focus, and that’s been the difference for the girls. They’ve worked extremely hard to get to that next level.”After the loss, Amonte Hiller altered her lineup, inserting freshmen Erin Fitzgerald, Amanda Macaluso and Gabriella Flibotte. The move paid off for NU, as Fitzgerald has scored 10 goals in NU’s three playoff games, Macaluso chipped in a hat trick against Notre Dame and Flibotte caused two turnovers Friday.Still, NU’s offense has run through “The Big Three”-senior attackers Katrina Dowd and Danielle Spencer and sophomore attacker Shannon Smith. The trio has combined for 200 goals, 81 assists and 199 draw controls.Maryland will counter NU’s high-powered attack with a suffocating defense. The Terrapins have allowed just 6.68 goals-per-game, best in the nation. They are led by goalie Brittany Dipper, who held Syracuse to a season-low five scores Friday.”(Maryland) plays pretty aggressive defense, they tend to sit on the eight so when you attack them, they push you right out,” Syracuse attacker Halley Quillinan said. “Quick to double. Quick to slide.”ACC Player of the Year Caitlyn McFadden and ACC Freshman of the Year Katie Schwarzmann command arguably the nation’s best midfield.”They have really, really athletic midfielders and their defenders have done a great job for them,” Amonte Hiller said.Not only will Sunday mark the third time Amonte Hiller has faced her alma mater; it is the second time in NU’s last three games she will be going up against a former teammate. After squaring off against Duke’s Kerstin Kimel in the quarterfinals, Amonte Hiller will go head-to-head with Maryland’s Cathy Reese on Sunday. The two teamed up on Maryland’s 1996 championship squad.Record crowds are expected at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Sunday, and for good reason.Lacrosse’s two titans will finally clash.

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