April 16, 2007

by Simon Brown, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller was offered the coaching job at her alma mater, Maryland, following the departure of Cindy Timchal in 2006. But Amonte Hiller turned down more money to remain with the two-time defending national champion Wildcats.

After No. 1 Northwestern defeated No. 2 Maryland 12-7 at home Monday, it appears Amonte Hiller's decision was the right one.

"Maryland is a great team, a great program," she said. "I obviously have a lot of respect for them - it's my alma mater. It's a lot of fun to come out here and play one versus two on our home field, and bring this level of lacrosse to Illinois."

For Northwestern (11-1), the victory did not come easily. This game was the most physically difficult the Wildcats have seen in weeks, and it took the elevated play of senior midfielder Kristen Kjellman (three goals) and sophomore goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (14 saves) for the Wildcats to pull through.

"This was the most physical game I've played in a really long time," said Northwestern senior Aly Josephs. "They had really good man-on-man defense, and that's what a lot of us like."

But even a rough game could not stop the Wildcats, Kjellman in particular. Her play had been more low-profile in previous games against Duke, California and Penn State, when she managed a combined five goals. But Kjellman turned it on in the second half against Maryland (13-2), putting the Terps away with two critical scores late.

With Northwestern leading 7-6 early in the second half, Kjellman scored twice in 19 seconds, the first on a free position and the second at the end of a long midfield sprint, to give the Wildcats a 9-5 cushion. Northwestern never trailed in this game, and Kjellman made sure they never would.

"That's what my team needed me to do at that time, just score a couple goals. So I tried to step up," Kjellman said. "It's just kind of doing whatever I can to help at whatever moment."

Kjellman didn't do it alone. Meredith Frank and Hilary Bowen added three goals apiece. Maryland outshot Northwestern 35-26, but Lathrop's 14 saves made sure Maryland's only advantage was in shots taken, not made.

One glaring statistic was the number of fouls called: 30 on the Wildcats and 24 on the Terrapins. Amonte Hiller questioned some calls.

"I think our kids played their heart out, and it was despite what was called on the field, but we played a great game," Amonte Hiller said. "I think we got roughed up here and there and the girls took it well. We did everything we needed to do to control that game. We know that we have to overcome adversity, and I think some of that was with the calls."

Northwestern has won 11 straight games, reasserting itself as the favorite in its bid for a third consecutive NCAA Division I championship.

"They played a great game," Maryland coach Cathy Reese said. "They were solid from one end to the other. Their goalie had some outstanding saves."

Northwestern will play its third game in seven days when it travels to Baltimore on Friday to take on No. 16-ranked Johns Hopkins.