TOWSON, Md. -- In what will go down as arguably one of the classic games in NCAA tournament history, senior Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) registered her third goal of the game with 1:31 remaining in the second overtime, propelling the top- ranked Wildcats to a nail-biting 13-12 victory over fourth-ranked Penn at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

"I really wanted to score that goal," Frank said. "We knew that either way we were going to score or they (Penn) were, and the team that didn't, their season would be done. I didn't want to be that team so I really wanted that goal."

"This game was definitely a thriller, and it feels incredible to come out with a win," said head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "I am sure the fans that were here got their money's worth. I am so proud of our team and we are thrilled to represent Northwestern in the championship game Sunday."

But the Wildcats (22-0) might have been watching the championship back in Evanston had junior Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) not somehow found the back of the net with less than a second left in the first three-minute overtime period. Dowd picked up a loose ball, and, falling through the crease, launched a shot over her shoulder which somehow slid between the pipes. It was her fourth of the game as she set a new single- tournament record with her 18th goal of the championship.

"I couldn't see the cage," Dowd said of her game-tying goal. "I was on my knees and the ball was on the ground. I knew there wasn't much time left so I just swung at it and tapped it. Honestly, I had no idea where the ball was going when I shot it. I'm just happy it went into the cage."

It capped off what was a dizzying final six minutes of regulation, which saw Penn (15-3) rally from an 11-7 deficit by scoring four goals in a four-minute span to send the game into overtime - the first for the Wildcats since a 9-8 loss to North Carolina in the 2007 season opener.

NU won the draw in overtime and held the ball for the majority of the three-minute period. But after a big save from Penn goalkeeper Emily Szelest, the Quakers brought the ball downfield, resulting in an Erin Brennan goal to put Penn on top for the first time in the game with 11 seconds left.

Senior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) won the ensuing draw and raced up the far sideline, firing a shot on goal which was saved by Szelest, but with the ball loose in front of the goal Dowd was able to net the game-tying tally.

In the early going, however, it looked like Northwestern might run away with the semifinal as junior Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) beat Szelest just over a minute into the contest, giving the 'Cats the early 1-0 lead. But NU wasn't done, as senior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) converted a feed Nielsen with 25:27 to go, giving NU a 2- 0 lead. It marked the third-straight season Bowen has recorded at least 50 goals as she made her second consecutive start after tearing her ACL a month and a half ago.

The Wildcats then showed their quick-strike ability as Nielsen won the draw, fired a pass to Spencer at the restraining line and brought the ball into the attacking zone. Spencer then Dowd on the near side of the net who beat Szelest - all in the span of eight seconds.

After a Quaker goal got Penn on the board, Spencer responded with a rocket from the top of the crease, pushing the Wildcat advantage back to three a 4-1 with 16:53 remaining in the half.

But a pair of goals from the Quakers trimmed the lead to 4-3 at the 14:30 mark. Sophomore Samantha Santulli (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) converted a free position attempt at 6:04, giving the Wildcats a 5-3 edge, but a tally by Penn's Bethany Warren cut the Northwestern lead to 5-4 at intermission.

1 2 3 4    Next  »

2009-05-23