Maryland Rally Ends One Dynasty, Restores Another
by Nelson Coffin | Special to Lacrosse Magazine
Online
NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
MARYLAND 13, NORTHWESTERN 11
|
* Terps End One Dynasty, Restore Another |
|
|
|
Maryland midfielder and tournament MVP Caitlyn McFadden makes a move on the cage Sunday during the Terps' 13-11 victory over Northwestern in the NCAA Division I championship game. McFadden scored two goals and helped hold Northwestern star and fellow Tewaaraton finalist Katrina Dowd to just one assist. © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com |
TOWSON, Md. -- By the time
Sarah Mollison's goal was disallowed -- for scoring on an indirect
free position without passing the ball first -- with about 22
minutes remaining in the first half in the NCAA Division I women's
lacrosse championship game between five-time defending champion
Northwestern and Maryland, the air was already leaking from the
suddenly rattled Terrapins' balloon.
They trailed, 4-0, then 6-0 and eventually fell behind, 8-3 with
15:12 remaining in the first half, even losing a goal on an
inadvertent whistle.
After that, though, it was all Terps, a determined bunch who
refused to be deflated in front of a record 9,782 fans at Johnny
Unitas Stadium on Sunday evening.
Top-seeded Maryland somehow pulled it together, using an efficient
offense and lock-down defense to emerge with a 13-11 triumph of the
second-seeded Wildcats and its first title since finishing the 2001
season with a seventh consecutive crown. It was also the an
NCAA-best 10th championship for the Terps, in what is believed to
be the biggest comeback in championship round history.
"We came in well prepared," said tournament Most Outstanding
Player and Maryland senior midfielder Caitlyn McFadden, a local
product who graduated from nearby Notre Dame Prep. "After their 6-0
run, we just kept playing with confidence and heart."
At one point, Maryland's defense held the vaunted Northwestern
attack scoreless for 27:33, a feat few could have imagined against
offensive standouts Katrina Dowd, Danielle Spencer, Shannon Smith,
Erin Fitzgerald, Amanda Macaluso and Brooke Matthews.
In fact, Dowd, the most prolific goal scorer in NCAA tournament
history, was held to just one assist in the contest.
"We weren't afraid to play her," said Maryland junior defender
Brittany Poist, who combined with McFadden to snap Dowd's 38-game
goal-scoring streak. "We respect her as a player, but we weren't
afraid."
In the first 10 minutes, it seemed as if Northwestern could do no
wrong.
Smith, Spencer, Fitzgerald and Matthews combined on the 6-0
opening salvo — on just eight shots against sophomore goalie
Brittany Dipper (seven saves) — that had the Terps
reeling.
"Maryland really fought back," Northwestern coach and Maryland
alum Kelly Amonte Hiller said. "We knew they weren't going to roll
over and die."
Yet there was no pivotal moment that turned the tide for the
Terps, other than inserting freshman defender Iliana Sanza into the
mix in an attempt to slow down the Wildcat express. Dipper also
settled down in the cage.
"We started to get a little casual," said Spencer, who lost the
battle of draw controls to Maryland's Karri Ellen Johnson, 14-12.
"And they made us pay."
The Terps finally got on the board when another rookie, Katie
Schwartzmann, stuck in a rebound off Mollison's shot. When Mollison
and Johnson also solved sophomore goalie Brianne LoManto, Maryland
at least had some momentum.
It was short-lived, however, after Macaluso and freshman Taylor
Thornton responded for Northwestern.
That's when Schwartzmann started Maryland's 7-0 run to grab a 10-8
lead with 19:57 left in the final period. Mollison, Johnson,
McFadden aand Brandi Johnson scored during the rally.
The Wildcats tied it on goals by Alexandra Frank and Smith with
12:03 left before Jones scored on a great look from McFadden, who
also rippled the net four minutes later, to put the Terps on top
for good.
"What an amazing night for the Terps," Maryland coach Cathy Reese
said. "I think they showed such great composure and such great
poise and just played a great game to fight back from that."
