Women’s Lacrosse Plays At Fourth-Seeded Duke Thursday In The First Round Of the NCAA Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
May 7, 2003
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 11th-ranked Ohio State (13-3, 5-1 American Lacrosse Conference) women’s lacrosse squad received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Championship and will face the No. 4 seed Duke (13-4) at Koshinen Stadium at 3 p.m., Thurs., May 8 in Durham, N.C.
OHIO STATE RECEIVES AN AT-LARGE BID TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
For the second consecutive year, Ohio State has received an at-large bid to the NCAA Champoinship. The Buckeyes were the only team selected from the American Lacrosse Conference. In OSU’s first appearance last season, the Buckeyes lost 11-7 at Notre Dame.
BUCKEYES WIN THE AMERICAN LACROSSE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ohio State, with a 15-9 victory over Ohio University, won the American Lacrosse Championship Thursday night in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The outright championship is due to the wording of the bylaws of the Conference. Despite finishing tied with Penn State (5-1) in the conference standings, the Buckeyes won the championship based on the listed criteria of head-to-head competition with Penn State, to determine the champion. Last Sunday, Ohio State defeated Penn State, 10-9, for its only loss in conference play.
BUCKEYES TAKE TOP POSTSEASON ALC HONORS
The American Lacrosse Conference has announced the 2003 All-Conference squads and special awards selected by a vote of the league coaches. The 2003 ALC Champion Buckeyes were honored with the three player awards: Player of the Year – Regina Oliver (So., Pottstown, Pa.); Goalie of the Year – Erin Forquer (So., Shaker Heights, Ohio); Rookier of the Year – KC Carter (Fr., Birchrunville, Pa.) and the Coach of the Year – Sue Stimmel. Oliver, Forquer, Tracey Bounds (Sr., Ellicott City, Md.) and Shannon Wilson (Sr., Sherkston, Ontario) were named to the ALC First Team All-Conference Squad. Additionally, Kimberly Lowe (Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) was selected to the second team. WEATHERILL NAMED ALC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
American Lacrosse Conference announced today that Caroline Weatherill (Jr., Malvern, Pa.) has been named the ALC Player of the Week. Weatherill scored a season-high five goals in OSU’s 15-9 win over Ohio University that gave the Buckeyes the American Lacrosse Conference Championship. She scored four of her goals in the first half as OSU built an 11-4 lead. Weatherill scored her five goals on eight shots and added three draw controls.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
Sue Stimmel coaches the Buckeyes. Ohio State has a 13-3 overall record and is 5-1 in the American Lacrosse Conference. OSU is ranked 11th in the IWLCA final poll. The Buckeyes defeated Ohio University, 15-9, last Thursday to win the outright American Lacrosse Conference Championship. Shannon Wilson (Sr., Sherkston, Ontario) and Regina Oliver (So., Pottstown, Pa.) are tied for the team lead in goals with 37. Tracey Bounds (Sr., Ellicott City, Md.) is tied for third with Caroline Weatherill (Jr., Malvern, Pa.) with 22 goals each. Bounds has a team-high 17 assists with Oliver second with 13. Oliver has team-highs in caused turnovers with 46 and draw controls with 40. Kimberly Lowe (Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) is second in caused turnovers with 29 while KC Carter (Fr., Birchrunville, Pa.) is second in draw controls with 29. Bounds leads the team in ground balls with 70. Oliver ranks second with 63. In goal, Erin Forquer (So., Shaker Heights, Ohio) is 13-2 with a 6.76 goals against average and a .557 saves percentage.
A LOOK AT DUKE
Kerstin Kimel coaches the Blue Devils. Duke has a 13-4 overall record and is ranked fourth in the IWLCA Poll. The Blue Devils were seeded fourth in the NCAA bracket. Duke is making its sixth consecutive championship appearance and is hosting a first round match for the fourth year in a row. The Blue Devils closed out the regular season with a 9-7 home loss to eighth-ranked Dartmouth. Duke has a trio of scorers with 30-plus goals this season. Katie Chrest is the team leader in goals with 38. Kate Kasier ranks second with 36 and Lauren Gallagher is third at 34. Chrest leads the team in assists with 15. Gallagher ranks second with 14 and Katie Laschinger is third with 12. The team leader in caused turnovers is Meghan Miller with 39. Meghan Walters is second with 32. Jessica Bennett and Miller share the team lead in ground balls with 54 each. In draw controls, Kaiser is the team leader with 29. Walters ranks second with 28. In goal, Megan Huether has started all 17 matches and has a 6.47 goals against average and a .528 save percentage.
THE SERIES WITH DUKE
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
COMMON OPPONENTS WITH DUKE
Duke and Ohio State have played eight common opponents this season. Duke is 6-2 against the eight teams while Ohio State is 5-3. Each team lost to Maryland and Vanderbilt while Ohio State lost to Stanford. Both Ohio State and Duke recorded wins this season against Virginia Tech, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Davidson.
OHIO STATE AGAINST THE NCAA FIELD
Ohio State has faced only one opponent this season that made the field of 16 for the NCAA Championship. Ohio State suffered a 10-5 loss to No. 2 Maryland on March 30 as part of the ALC/ACC Challenge played in Columbus.
OHIO STATE’S EXTENDS TEAM SEASON WIN MARK AGAINST OHIO
Ohio State’s 15-9 win against Ohio was the Buckeyes 13th win of the season and establishes a new season record for victories in a season. The previous record was 11 set last season when the Buckeyes finished 11-5.
FORQUER ADDS TO SEASON RECORD FOR GOALIE WINS
Buckeye goalie Erin Forquer, with the win over Ohio last week, has a record of 13-2 this season. The 13 wins sets a single season record for wins. Forquer held the previous record of 11 set during her freshman season when she was 11-5. Forquer has a career record of 24-7 and is nearing the career wins record of 26 wins held by Megan Barnett (1999-01) who had a 26-20 record.
OSU 8-0 IN ROAD CONTEST THIS SEASON
For the first time in the history of the program, Ohio State has finished undefeated (8-0) on the road during the regular season. OSU won at No. 19 Richmond, 7-6, at Lafayette 11-2, at No. 20 Northwestern, 14-4 and at No. 14 Notre Dame, 12-9, in March. In April, OSU won at Davidson, 17-3, at No. 7 Cornell, 11-10, at Duquesne, 10-5, and at No. 9 Penn State, 10-9.
OSU PICKS UP THIRD WIN OVER A TOP-10 OPPONENT
Ohio State’s 10-9 win at No. 9 Penn State marked the third time this season the Buckeyes have defeated an opponent that was ranked in the Top-10 of the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll. OSU defeated No. 9 North Carolina, 10-8, at home and won an 11-10 overtime decision at No. 7 Cornell. OSU’s has one loss against a Top-10 ranked school. The Buckeyes lost, 10-5, to No. 2 Maryland in Columbus.
BOUNDS EXPANDS OSU CAREER LEAD IN ASSISTS
Ohio State career assist leader, Tracey Bounds, added five to her total to give her 58 for the season. A six-point game, including four assists, against Vanderbilt made her the OSU career leader in assists. Her five assists against the Bobcats ties her for second on the OSU games record list with Kristin Jeschke in 1999 against Ohio and her previous best in 2002 at Northwestern.
OLIVER MOVES TO FOURTH IN OSU SEASON POINTS
With three goals against Ohio, Regina Oliver raised her season point total to 50 and moved to fourth on the OSU season record list. She had been tied for fifth with Celeste Cianfrani (1999) with 47.
OLIVER NOW TIED FOR THIRD IN OSU SEASON GOALS WITH WILSON
Regina Oliver’s three goals against Ohio gives her 37 on the season and has moved her into a tie for third on the OSU season record list with Shannon Wilson. Oliver had been in sixth previously with 34 goals. She passed Erin Anderson (1999) and Tracey Bounds (2002) with 36 each.
WILSON TIES FOR THIRD IN OSU SEASON GOALS WITH OLIVER
Shannon Wilson’s goal against Ohio raised her season total to 37 and is now tied for third on the OSU season record list with Regina Oliver. Wilson had been tied with Erin Anderson (1999) and Tracey Bounds (2002) for third with 36 goals.
BOUNDS BECOMES SEASON LEADER IN GROUND BALLS
Tracey Bounds, with five ground balls again Ohio, has become the Ohio State season leader with 70. She had been tied for second at 65 with Laurie Ryback (1999). Bounds passed the previous leader Celeste Cianfrani (2001) who had 69.
CARTER NOW FIFTH IN SEASON DRAW CONTROLS
With two draw controls against Ohio, KC Carter raised her season total to 29 and now stands fifth on the OSU season record list. Carter had been tied at fifth with Megan Mirick (2002) with 27.
OHIO STATE 11TH IN FINAL IWLCA POLL
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association final poll has ranked Ohio State 11th in the national poll released this week. The Buckeyes began the season 16th in the preseason poll and was in the Top-10 at ninth during the season. Loyola (Md.) (15-1) finished No. 1 in the poll.
OHIO STATE IN THE AMERICAN LACROSSE CONFERENCE STATISTICS
OSU’s Erin Forquer continues to lead the American Lacrosse Conference statistically in both goals against average at 6.76 and saves percentage at .557. Regina Oliver ranks fourth in scoring at 3.13 points per game and Shannon Wilson is fifth at 2.75. Wilson and Oliver are tied for third in goals per game at 2.31. In assists per game, Tracey Bounds ranks fifth at 1.06 and Oliver is seventh at .81. In draw controls per game, Oliver ranks second at 2.50 with KC Carter sixth at 1.81. Bounds ranks first in ground balls at 4.38 per game. Oliver is second at 3.94. In caused turnovers per game, Oliver ranks second at 2.88 with Kimberly Lowe fifth at 1.81. Brandie Williams (So., Hatboro, Pa.) is eighth at 1.44 and Wilson ninth at 1.38. The Buckeyes top the ALC in team defense giving up 7.09 goals per game. OSU is second in team offense with a 10.98 goals per game average and second in ground balls at 32.31 per game. OSU ranks fourth in draw controls at 10.11 per game.
OHIO STATE IN THE NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS
In the national statistics released this week by the NCAA, Ohio State is ranked sixth in the country in defense with a 7.19 goals against average and 11th in scoring margin at 3.81 points. The Buckeyes are eighth nationally in ground balls with a 32.45 per game average. Individually, Erin Forquer ranks third in goals against average at 6.79 and 12th in save percentage at .557. Tracey Bounds is sixth in the country in ground balls with a 4.38 per game average. Regina Oliver is fifth in caused turnovers with 2.88 per game and 15th in ground balls at 3.94.
OSU SETS WIN STREAK WITH VICTORY OVER NORTH CAROLINA
Ohio State’s 10-8 victory over ninth-ranked North Carolina was the seventh consecutive win for the Buckeyes after a season opening loss to Stanford. The seven wins equals the longest winning streak in the history of Ohio State women’s lacrosse that was set in 2002. In that season, the Buckeyes won its first six games of the season before falling to fifth-ranked North Carolina, 12-7.
MIRICK MOVES FROM PLAYER TO COACH
Megan Mirick has ended her playing career with Ohio State, but has moved to the role of assistant coach for the Buckeyes. Mirick ended her four-year career with 143 goals and 182 points, both Ohio State career records. She held the career goals record from the 2001 season and set the career points record in 2003.
HEAD COACH SUE STIMMEL
Sue Stimmel is in her eighth season as the head coach for the Ohio State women’s lacrosse team. A 1984 graduate of Temple University, Stimmel is the only coach that the Buckeye program has had. She spent six years has the head coach of Denison prior to coming to Ohio State. Stimmel is 67-49 at Ohio State and is 143-67 in her 14-year career. The 2003 season has been her most successful with a program-high 13 wins and winning the American Lacrosse Conference. The squad is currently ranked 11th and has received at-large bids to the NCAA Championship the last two season.
UPCOMING FOR THE BUCKEYES
With a win over Duke, Ohio State would advance to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals and face the winner of Le Moyne (12-5) at Princeton (12-4) match on Sun., May 11.
