Wildcats claw way to title

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Northwestern’s players put on the brakes and Penn couldn’t keep up in the Division I national championship in front of a title game-record crowd of 6,125 at Towson’s Johnny Unitas Stadium on Sunday night.

The top-seeded Wildcats used a methodical offense to control the ball and limit the second-seeded Quakers’ chances en route to a 10-6 victory and their fourth championship in as many years – the second longest streak in the event’s 27 year history.

“Everyone stepped up,” Northwestern junior midfielder Hilary Bowen, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, said. “That’s what made us successful tonight and that’s what’s made us successful in the past.”

Added Wildcats coach Kelly Amonte Hiller: “You can call us a dynasty if you want to.”

Northwestern (21-1) yielded the game’s first goal, but scored the next four to take control by using multiple screens during its offensive sets to confuse the Quakers, as the Wildcats maintained possession for nearly 11 consecutive minutes midway through the half.

Penn junior midfielder Kaitlyn Lombardo scored with 7:26 left in the half to cut the deficit in half for Penn (17-2), but Wildcat junior attacker Meredith Frank scored with just 11 seconds left in the first half to give her team a 5-2 lead at intermission.

“Obviously, this isn’t the outcome we wanted,” Penn senior attacker Rachel Manson said. “But it was an incredible ride and an amazing experience to play in front of so many people. We deserved to be here.”

Penn got a goal from sophomore midfielder Emma Spiro fewer than five minutes into the second half to pull within two. Bowen, however, answered with two quick goals and senior defender Christy Finch tallied just her second goal of the season to extend the advantage to 8-3 with 22:36 left.

Penn scored the next three goals to make it 8-6, but that’s as close as the Quakers would get to winning its first national title. Northwestern junior midfielder Hannah Nielsen scored with 11:35 remaining to push the lead back to three and secure the win for the Wildcats.

Bowen finished with three goals and 17 overall in four tournament games to tie her with Delaware’s Karen Emas in 1984 for the most in a postseason, and Nielsen added three goals and three assists.

Northwestern’s four straight national titles and 15 straight NCAA Tournament wins trails only Maryland’s run of seven straight championships from 1995-2001. Penn defeated  Northwestern in the regular season, 11-7, last month in Philadelphia.

“This was probably my favorite one,” Finch said of the championship. “I just love this team so much and it’s great to go out on top.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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