May 5, 2008

2008 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship Bracket

EVANSTON, Ill -- Despite a late-season loss to Penn, Northwestern did enough to earn the number one overall seed in the 2008 NCAA tournament. The 17-1 Wildcats will meet a familiar foe in the first round, as Notre Dame (12-6) will make a return trip to Evanston Sunday, May 11.

Northwestern regained its championship form this past weekend, blowing past Penn State 15-7 then dominating Vanderbilt 14-3 to capture its sixth-straight American Lacrosse Conference championship. The Wildcats now look to carry that momentum as it begins its quest for a fourth-straight national championship.

The `Cats and the Irish met back on April 9 with NU having one of its best games of the season, breezing past Notre Dame 16-2. Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) led the way for Northwestern with five goals and an assist while Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) added four goals and a pair of assists of her own as NU jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. The Irish are just one of eight teams in the field of 16 that the Wildcats have already met head-to-head this season.

Penn earned the number two overall seed, with Maryland, Virginia and Syracuse rounding out the top five. Georgetown, Boston University and Princeton will also host first round games this weekend.

Opening draw for the first round NCAA tournament game is schedule for 1 p.m. Sunday, May 11, at Lakeside Field.

2008 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship

#1 Northwestern (17-1) vs. Notre Dame (12-6)
#8 Princeton (12-4) vs. Vanderbilt (13-5)

#5 Syracuse (16-2) vs. Towson (13-5)
#4 Virginia (14-3) vs. North Carolina (12-6)

#3 Maryland (17-2) vs. Temple (13-6)
#6 Georgetown (12-6) vs. Duke (11-7)

#7 Boston University (17-2) vs. New Hampshire (13-5)
#2 Penn (14-1) vs. Colgate (11-9)