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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Syracuse junior attacker Katie Rowan has spent the past three years rewriting NCAA and school record books en route to leading the Orange to its first Final Four game tonight at Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium.
But it’s been the continued emergence of sophomore midfielder and former Bel Air standout Christina Dove that has been just as important to the team’s success.
“We play well together and our whole offense has been clicking,” Dove said. “I wasn’t expecting making it here, but we worked hard to see where we could go.”
The fifth-seeded Orange (18-2) continues the best season in school history tonight at 6 against top-seeded and three-time defending national champion Northwestern (19-1). The Wildcats used a smothering defense to contain Syracuse in a 19-7 win in the Carrier Dome on March 24.
But containing Rowan and Dove for a second time this season will not be easy.
Rowan, a Tewaaraton Award finalist for the top player in Division I, has 73 goals and an NCAA-record 69 assists. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, Rowan had a record 13 points in a 21-9 win over Towson.
Dove, who has a team-high 74 goals on 164 shots, is second on the team with 43 draw controls. During a 13-11 win over North Carolina last weekend to reach the Final Four, Dove had three goals and two assists.
But this breakout season is no surprise for Dove, who scored 47 goals and finished with 58 points as a freshman. When Rowan was asked to describe one moment when she was impressed by Dove this season, she said its her ability to consistently create highlight reel-caliber goals.
“She’s a great dodger and can really finish,” Rowan said. “Most games, she beats like three players and dodges around them and that’s pretty sweet.”
Dove and Rowan, however, will have to be at their best to beat Northwestern. The Wildcats are second in Division I in allowing a meager seven goals per game. Northwestern’s defense is led by National Player of the Year candidate and senior defender Christy Finch, who is second in the country in caused turnovers (3.4) and 25th in ground balls (2.8) per game.
“It’s really exciting to play in front of all my friends and my family,” Dove said. “Getting here is definitely a goal and I have been looking forward to it all year.”
dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:25 AM MST on Mon., May. 26, 2008 re: "Jays look to deliver Orange crush"
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1:10 AM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008
re: "Terrapins looking to stuff Owls"
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5:20 PM MST on Sat., May. 10, 2008
re: "Loyola Greyhounds look to bedevil Duke"
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2:09 PM MST on Tue., Jan. 29, 2008
re: "Schwartzman answers his critics"
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9:41 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 24, 2007
re: "Timchal up for the challenge"
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9:41 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007
re: "Charmed with lacrosse"
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7:49 PM MST on Tue., May. 22, 2007
re: "So what’s it gonna take?"
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7:16 PM MST on Wed., May. 16, 2007
re: "So what’s it gonna take?"
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7:50 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 21, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
You'd think that the Examiner and the Baltimore Sun could at least do an article on the most successful Division 111 lacrosse program in the nation after Salisbury won their 8th National Championship! Jim Berkman is only the coach with the most wins in NCAA history at any divisional level.
12 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Berkley Summerlin (leader of the Temple team that the Terps were to stuff) is a native of Baltimore. Perhaps an article about her would be interesting! Maybe better than articles about a 25 yr old Canadian playing lax at Md.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What's the update???
12 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
jesse you rock
104 agree | 69 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good Luck to Cindy. Her players are lucky to have her. She is a classic. She was sorely missed this year by a lot of Maryland people. I only wish her the best.
166 agree | 174 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Next time do some research and get the atttendance numbers right! Monday's NCAA Men's Division I thriller between Johns Hopkins and Duke set a new attendance record for the championship game, with 48,443 fans enjoying the action at M&T Bank Stadium. That breaks the mark of 47,062 set last year at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. This year is the fourth year in row in which single-session attendance for the title game exceeded 40,000. The 2007 men's championships -- the Division I semifinals and finals plus the Division II and Division III finals -- also set a record, with 123,225 in attendance. That tops the 120,614 who watched the tournament in Philadelphia in 2006.
465 agree | 182 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Zimmerman is a class act. Best of luck to him and UMBC Lacrosse! Signed: An Air Force Academy Lacrosse Fan.
264 agree | 215 disagree
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Stephen Meister said:
Last year the Baltimore group derided the NCAA selection committees "Ivy League" selections. This year, the Baltimore crowd showed they didn't belong in the mix. Cornell had to stall the last 3 minutes at Brown, escaping with a victory and feeling badly beaten up. When Cornell met Towson the competition from the Baltimore boys was a joke. Albany took a beating from Binghamton, then Albany showed Loyolla to be a laughing stock. UMBC had to take Brown into overtime, but they hammered Maryland in the playoffs. Parity is here, baby, and the MLL is spreading the word. Baltimore better be wary, they may go the way of Tower Records as the rest of the country discovers this fabulous game.
309 agree | 255 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Josh Portis is a student of the game. Ralph has him throwing to 2 team most of the time. Steffy has 1st team which help his percentages. I say give Portis more reps with 1st team and watch his percentage sky rocket. He is a great passer as well as a serious threat with his feet. (playmaker)
275 agree | 273 disagree
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