Tournament Trend 4 Kara Mupo T
he Northwestern women’s lacrosse team that fans have gotten to know over the past couple of years —
the one that fought back from a loss to Maryland to capture its sixth and seventh NCAA championships in 2011 and 2012 — has changed drastically. First, Shannon Smith graduated after
Enemy Lines WHAT RIVAL COACHES SAY
“Pivotal year for Amonte Hiller to show Northwestern can regain form… Adding Ivory only helps bolster their talent and leadership. A lot of coaches would like to see them drop out of the top 10. I don’t see that happening… … No longer invincible… Anytime Kelly loses you feel bad for their next opponent. I’m not sure they have the leaders or depth to sustain it all season.”
2012, followed by Erin Fitzgerald, Taylor Thornton, Amanda Macaluso and Ali Cassera in 2013. The Wildcats need an identity on offense. “We always have people that rise up,” coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “You’ll see some players emerge. I can definitely see Kara Mupo and Christina Esposito. Northwestern
also returns Kelly Rich, who enjoyed a breakthrough game in the ALC final, and Alyssa Leonard,
who
proved to be far more than just a draw specialist last season. Leonard jumped from seven goals in 2011 and 2012 to 37 in 2013. Kat DeRonda showed glimpses of stardom with three goals apiece against Notre Dame and Florida in the ALC final. She could play an enhanced role for Northwestern.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Northwestern WILDCATS
2013 RECORD: 19-3 (6-1 ALC) CoaCh: Kelly amonte hiller (13th year) • reCord at northwestern: 215-33
09 10 11 12 13
Schedule Feb 9
Key Game The Wildcats are a
combined 50-0 since 2007 against their first eight foes. Not so against North Carolina, which is responsible for four of the Wildcats’ 12 losses since 2007.
Feb 22 Feb 25 Mar 5 Mar 9
Mar 11 Mar 23 Mar 25 Mar 30 Apr 4 Apr 6
Apr 10 Apr 13 Apr 19 Apr 26
Virginia* at Duke
Marquette Notre Dame at Ohio State at Michigan at Syracuse
at Massachusetts North Carolina at Penn State at Penn
Vanderbilt
Johns Hopkins Florida USC**
* at Atlanta ** at Wrigley Field, Chicago
Top Returner A ALYSSA LEONARD (SR.)
Leonard emerged as a scoring threat to go with her supreme presence on the draw. She will need to do it all in 2014.
The Wildcats also will lean on the
marvels of medical rehabilitation. The two attackers Amonte Hiller mentioned — Mupo and Esposito — were limited to three and eight games, respectively. Northwestern’s offense never reached its usual fever pitch and was nullified by North Carolina in the NCAA semifinals. The Wildcats failed to reach the championship game for the first time since 2004. Mupo scored 55 goals combined in
2011 and 2012 despite sharing touches with Thornton, Fitzgerald and Smith. Can she emerge healthy and productive? The Wildcats’ strength should be on defense. Midfielder Christy Turner has started 45 straight games, while defender Kerri Harrington is the nation’s best face- guarder. Moreover, Northwestern added 2013 Ivy League Defender of the Year Kate Ivory (Cornell), who figures to make an immediate impact as a transfer. Behind them, Bridget Bianco flourished
in her first season as a starting goalie. She most recently benefitted from the men’s game perspective of Tim McCormack, the former UMass goalie who joined Northwestern’s coaching staff at the end of the summer.
— J.R.
Projected Starters A Alyssa Leonard (Sr.)* G: 37
A Kara Mupo (R-Jr.)* G: 3
A Kelly Rich (Sr.) G: 21
A Christina Esposito (So.) G: 7
dC: 125 A: 1 a: 8
M Kat DeRonda (Sr.) G: 12
GB: 10 A: 4
M Gabriella Flibotte (Sr.)* GB: 60
M Christy Turner (Sr.)* GB: 13
M Kate Macdonald (Sr.)* GB: 29
M Jess Carroll (Jr.)* GB: 18
D Kate Ivory (Gr.) GB: 44
CT: 49 CT: 11 CT: 12 dC: 11
D Kerri Harrington (Sr.)* GB: 16
G Bridget Bianco (Jr.)* GAA: 7.63
* returning starters X-Factors
KARA MUPO (R-JR.) AND A CHRISTINA ESPOSITO (SO.)
Mupo can get to the goal and is an efficient free-position shooter. She and the explosive Esposito (pictured) must stay healthy.
Power Ratings (SCALE OF 1-5)
3 OFFENSE 4 4 5 DEFENSE GOALIE DRAW February 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 55 SV%: 43.3
CT: 33 (at Cornell) CT: 5
NCAA CHAMPIONS CHAMP GAME
NCAA CHAMPIONS NCAA CHAMPIONS FINAL FOUR
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