COLLEGE PREVIEW 2013 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN TOP 20 2012 RECORD: 21-2 (4-1 ALC) NORTHWESTERN COACH: KELLY AMONTE HILLER (11TH YEAR) WILDCATS 3
Shannon Smith is Northwestern’s all- time leader with 254 goals. In 2012, she either scored or assisted 31 percent of all Northwestern’s goals. And now she’s gone. The Wildcats need a new way to score.
Of course, if there’s any program that’s prepared to reinvent itself, it’s the one with seven NCAA championships in eight years. The Wildcats’ capacity to fi nd fresh paths to victory is a running gag at this point.
“I hear it a lot back home. ‘Oh yeah, you guys are going to win another championship. Aren’t you sick of it?”’ attacker Kara Mupo said. “But each year here is really different and unique.” Mupo’s role is defi nitely different this season — she inherits
Smith’s spot feeding behind the cage. The junior was the third- leading scorer for Northwestern last year, behind Smith and senior attacker Erin Fitzgerald. Mupo likes her new view. “I haven’t been back there since high school. I want to be a feeder and a dodger and get my teammates involved in every way,” she said. “I’m excited to get out there and show the lacrosse world we’re still in it.”
Feb 8 UMass* Feb 9 at USC Feb 22 at North Carolina Feb 24 at Vanderbilt Mar 6 Boston College Mar 9 at Johns Hopkins Mar 11 at Navy Mar 16 Harvard Mar 27 Ohio State Mar 30 Syracuse Apr 5 Penn State Apr 7 at Virginia Apr 12 Duke Apr 14 Stanford Apr 20 at Florida Apr 24 at Notre Dame April 27 Penn *at Los Angeles
Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller envisions a well-balanced attack for 2013. In addition to the right-handed Mupo, she has lefties Amanda Macaluso and Kat DeRonda at her disposal. “To replace someone like
Shannon, you have to have diversity,” Amonte Hiller said. The defense should be able to give the offense time to gel. Junior goalie Bridget Bianco saw time in just seven games last year, but should handle the starting role fi ne. Bianco is a product of the storied Moorestown (N.J.) High program, where coach Deanna Knobloch called her the best high school goalie she had ever seen. Outside the crease, seniors Garbiella Flibotte and Christy Turner and junior Kerri Harrington are veteran defenders. Harrington, the toughest faceguard in the nation, is expected to expand her role. Turner has breakout potential. “She’s someone who can contribute, much like Gabriella and
Taylor Thornton, at the highest level at both ends of the fi eld,” Amonte Hiller said. Northwestern must get offensive contributions from the midfi eld to keep pace with opponents like Florida and Syracuse, which return powerful attacks. Thornton is a good start, but it does not end with her. “If a team gives us one thing, well, we’ll do this, and if a team does another thing, we’ll do that,” Amonte Hiller said. “We try to pretty much do it all.”
— C.L 62 LACROSSE MAGAZINE February 2013 >> RIVAL COACHES SAY
“Erin Fitzgerald will need younger teammates to step up on the offensive end... Can it be a rebuilding year?... Taylor Thornton will continue to be the best player in the country... Taylor is a game-breaker... Count on them being incredibly smart, very disciplined, but also rough at the same time.”
TOP RETURNER M Taylor Thornton (Sr.) Lacrosse Magazine’s Preseason Player of the Year stepped up her offense in 2012, proving she’s equally as dangerous on both sides of the ball with . Look for that trend to continue as Northwestern looks to generate more goals from the midfi eld this year.
X-FACTOR M Alyssa Leonard (Jr.) The Wildcats may only go as far as their draw specialist takes them. Compare her subpar performance in the ALC tournament (especially against Florida) to the dominance in the NCAAs last year, and you’ll fi nd the difference between winning it all and falling just short. You need possessions to nurse them.
Erin Fitzgerald is no longer the No. 2 option in the Northwestern offense. Look for a big season from the senior attacker who has racked up huge numbers in her career.
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PROJECTED STARTERS
A Kara Mupo (Jr.) G: 33 A: 6
A Erin Fitzgerald (Sr.) * G: 56 A: 9
A Kelly Rich (Jr.) G: 9
A: 3
M Christina Esposito (Fr.) G: 72 A: 55 (at West Babylon High)
M Taylor Thornton (Sr.) * DC: 71 GB: 58
M Amanda Macaluso (Sr.) G: 9
A: 4
M Alyssa Leonard (Jr.) * G: 7
DC: 90
M: Ali Cassera (Sr.) G: 11 GB: 23
D Gabriella Flibotte (Sr.) * DC: 41 CT: 21
D Christy Turner (Sr.) * GB: 22 CT: 17
D Kerri Harrington (Jr.) * GB: 9 CT: 3
G Bridget Bianco (Jr.) GAA: 8.64 SV%: 42.1
* returning starters TELLING NUMBER
in 2012, the first time since 2005 the Wildcats did not finish in the top 10.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Northwestern’s national ranking for draw controls
Kara Mupo
©LEE WEISSMAN (KM); ©ANNE RYAN (TT); ©BILL DANIELEWSKI (EF)
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