This is Northwestern’s season to get back on top of the lacrosse world. But after the team’s first eight games, the idea seemed impossibly far from reality.
After falling to Ohio State on March 15, the Wildcats (17-3, 7-1 Big Ten) had lost three games, two at the hands of unranked opponents. For the first time since 2002, NU fell to an unranked opponent at home, and the team lost three of its first eight games for the first time in a full season since 2019.
For a squad looking to make its seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship Semifinals, things seemed bleak.
But just as quickly as things went south, the ’Cats found a rhythm and showed some semblance of the powerhouse that has resided in Evanston for over 20 years. During the two months after its loss to the Buckeyes, NU rattled off 12 straight wins, all but two of which came against ranked opponents.
Following the ’Cats’ win over USC, their fourth of the win streak, coach Kelly Amonte Hiller gave a simple but telling message.
“When we want to play, we can play,” she said.
Although much of NU’s success has been driven by elite offense and strong defense, mentality was key for Amonte Hiller and her squad. After nearly every game this season, the head honcho and her players have hardly failed to mention the need to only think about themselves and mesh as a group.
With a focus on mindset, the ’Cats have taken down every opponent standing in their way, including two No.1-ranked teams in the IWLCA Coaches Poll. Although three of the 12 wins came by one goal in overtime and six were by three goals or less, there is unwavering hope that this team has what it takes to go all the way.
And why shouldn’t there be belief? After all, things are on NU’s side.
Thanks to their two top-ranked wins as well as a pair of Big Ten titles, the ’Cats earned the No. 1-overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and the perk of home-field advantage through the quarterfinal round. Last January, NU was named the host for this season’s Final Four, providing the team with the golden opportunity to win a championship on its home field, a feat last accomplished by Maryland in 1986.
After avenging their loss to Colorado in the quarterfinals, the ’Cats have beaten the three teams remaining in the field. Their penultimate task comes against Johns Hopkins, which NU defeated at Ryan Fieldhouse on March 29.
Should they advance, the ’Cats would meet the winner of the Maryland and North Carolina contest for the national title. NU won by one goal in each of its three games against the Terrapins and the Tar Heels, but tight contests allow the team, which “loves the hard fight,” to thrive.
After coming up short and falling in the championship game in back-to-back seasons, eight-time champion Amonte Hiller and the ’Cats have a chance to show the might of Midwest lacrosse once again. Hard work and strong mentalities have put NU in a place to make it happen.
Having a home crowd at Martin Stadium can’t hurt either.
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