Northwestern Needs Rally to Top Syracuse

from press release

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Top-ranked Northwestern found itself in unfamiliar territory Sunday -- trailing by three goals at halftime. But thanks to six goals from senior Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton), the Wildcats rallied to take a 13-12 victory over eighth-ranked Syracuse.

With the game tied at 12, senior Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) broke a Syracuse (4-2) double team in the near corner, then beat goalkeeper Liz Hogan for the game-winner with 1:28 remaining. The Wildcats won the ensuing draw control and was able to run out the clock to improve to 6-0 on the year and extend their winning streak to 35 games.

Spencer, playing in front of a large hometown contingent, had one of her top games of the year, recording three draw controls as well. Dowd finished with a hat trick and an assist while sophomore Shannon Smith (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) had two goals and two assists for the 'Cats.

Sophomore goalkeeper Brianne LoManto (Miller Place, N.Y./Rocky Point) came up huge in the second half, recording six of her 10 saves in the second stanza. LoManto had four saves in the final 15 minutes of the game to thwart off the Syracuse attack, including a diving stick save to rob an Orange empty-net goal.

As had been the case in every game this season, Northwestern got on the board first as junior Brooke Matthews (Baltimore, Md./Friends School) converted a free position attempt with 27:46 remaining.

After the Orange responded with a goal of its own two minutes later, the Wildcats' offensive trifecta made its presence known, as a pair of goals from Dowd and an additional from both Spencer and Smith pushed the Northwestern lead to 5-1 with just under 20 left in the opening stanza.
 
But Syracuse responded in a big way, tallying eight of the next nine goals over the next 17 minutes, including a hat trick from Christina Dove, to take a 9-6 lead with 97 seconds remaining on the clock. Spencer would stop the Orange run with her third of the game, bringing the 'Cats to within two at 9-7 with 1:01 remaining, but Syracuse would add one more goal late to take a 10-7 advantage into the half.

Whatever head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said to the team in the intermission worked, as goals from Smith, freshman Erin Fitzgerald (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) and Spencer, coupled with a pair of big saves from LoManto tied the game at 10 with 22:49 remaining. Spencer then rocketed her fifth of the game, putting Northwestern back on top 11-10 with 17:33 left.

Syracuse would tie the game at 11 midway through the final half, only to see Spencer tally her double hat-trick off a feed from Smith at the 5:16 mark. The Orange would stage one last rally, tying the game at 12 with 2:47 remaining before Dowd sealed the victory 79 seconds later.

Northwestern again dominated on the draw, taking 18 of the 27 opportunities on the afternoon led by five from sophomore Alexandra Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood). Syracuse out-shot the Wildcats 30-26 but could only convert two of their 12 second-half shots.

One category which was uncharacteristic for the Wildcats was turnovers, where Northwestern's 16 in the opening half was the most they had seen all year, as NU finished with 24 for the day.

Close to 1,600 fans turned out to see a classic game on a great day in Syracuse, with a large portion of those in attendance cheering for Northwestern. With 10 players on the Wildcat roster hailing from the Empire State, there was a significant cheering section for the 'Cats at Christian Brothers Academy.

Northwestern will remain on the road, opening up its 2010 American Lacrosse Conference slate in Columbus, Ohio, against the Buckeyes. Opening draw is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.