May 26, 2008

by Nelson Coffin, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

TOWSON, Md. - It's no secret that rivals foolish enough to play run-and-gun with Northwestern do so at their own peril.

The Wildcats (21-1) are so fast, talented and relentless, they can easily break the will of an opponent willing to try to turn a game into a track meet.

In winning a fourth consecutive national championship, though, Northwestern proved it can adapt to a slower pace and still come out on top, just as it did in a 10-6 victory over the Penn in the NCAA Division I women's lacrosse championship game before a record 6,125 fans at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

While coach Kelly Amonte Hiller's club was not dazzling in avenging an 11-7 regular-season setback to the Quakers (17-2) and boosting its all-time postseason record to 17-1, it was plenty good enough to spark questions about a dynasty during a post-game interview.

"I'm not going to say it, but if you want to call it (a dynasty), I'm not going to get upset," said Amonte Hiller as a roomful of reporters chuckled.

As for playing Penn's more methodical style, Hiller didn't object to that, either.

When Penn beat the Wildcats, 11-7, on April 27, it was the Quakers' patience that carried the day, which perhaps made Amonte Hiller devise a different strategy for the rematch.

"We wanted to play a little bit of their game this time," the coach said after her 16th consecutive playoff triumph.

As usual, they did it better than just about any team could after sophomore midfielder Ali DeLuca struck first for the Ivy League champs for a 1-0 Penn lead. The goal came just 1:08 after Quaker freshman attacker Giulia Giordano secured the opening draw. Junior midfielder Hannah Nielsen tied the score before junior Meghan Plunkett, playing in her hometown, notched just her third goal of the season to put Northwsetern ahead for good with 20:08 reamining in the period.

Juniors Hilary Bowen and Meredith Frank and sophomore Katrina Dowd followed Plunkett in the scoring column for Northwestern while junior Kaitlyn Lombardo had the Quakers' other first-half marker.

The most pivotal play of the half came from junior goalie Morgan Lathrop, who recorded the fifth of a season-high 11 saves by stonewalling senior attacker Rachel Manson's free-position blast with :01 remaining to preserve a 5-2 advantage.

Penn coach Karin Brower said that as good as Lathrop is, her defenders are also key components to her success.

"Their defense rushes you so hard, that you dodn't have time to get a good look at the cage," she said. "And she (Lathrop) knows that, so she can take some chances."

Trailing 8-3 early in the second half, Penn began to chip away at the lead. The Quakers scored three consecutive goals by senior attacker Chelsea Kocis, DeLuca and Manson to have the purple-clad Wildcats fans getting a little nervous.

However, Dowd's takeaway in the defensive end and subsequent groundball just above the restraining line led to the first of two Nielsen goals to close the door for good.

"They're four-time national champs for a reason," Penn senior goalie Sarah Waxman said. "The game is all about possessions, and we didn't have the ball enough in the first half."

Nielsen and Bowen boasted three goals apiece for the champions, with the former also recording a game-best three assists. Senior defender Christy Finch, like Plunkett, was another unlikely source for a Northwestern goal, notching just her second goal of the season and 10th of her career. DeLuca paced the Quakers with two goals.