PROVIDENCE, R.I. - For the second consecutive year, the BIG EAST Conference tied a league record as three women’s lacrosse teams were selected to compete in the 16-team, NCAA Division I Championship. Georgetown (13-5), Notre Dame (15-4) and Syracuse (13-4) all earned a berth marking the third time overall the BIG EAST has had three teams selected. The feat also was accomplished in 2008 and 2002.
BIG EAST tournament champion Notre Dame is seeded No. 6 overall and will host Vanderbilt on May 10 in first-round action. The Irish lost at Vanderbilt earlier this season 18-11 on April 15. The Irish earned the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Championship by winning their first BIG EAST Championship title on April 26. Notre Dame has won its last three games in a row. Notre Dame is making its fifth trip to the NCAA Championship and its second straight. Offensively, the Irish are led by senior Tewaaraton Award finalist Jillian Byers, who has totaled a conference-best 100 points and 74 goals. Byers was named one of the BIG EAST Attack Players of the Year along with Katie Rowan.
Syracuse is making its third straight appearance in the NCAA Championship after earning an at-large bid this year. The Orange are seeded No. 7 overall and will host Boston University on May 10 in the first round. It is the second straight year Syracuse will host a first-round matchup. Earlier this season, Syracuse knocked off Boston University 17-8 on March 4 at home. The Orange scored eight unanswered goals in the second half to erase a two-goal halftime deficit on its way to a 17-8 victory. Overall, Syracuse holds a 6-1 advantage in the series.
The Orange are making their eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Championship. In 2008 Syracuse advanced to the Final Four before losing in the national semifinals. Offensively, Syracuse is led by senior Tewaaraton finalist Katie Rowan who was named one of the BIG EAST Attack Players of the Year along with Jillian Byers. Rowan tallied a league-leading 50 assists during the regular season and ranked second with 94 points.
Georgetown earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Championship for the second straight year. The Hoyas will travel to Princeton on May 10 in first round action, a team GU did not meet during the regular season. GU is 6-8 all-time against Princeton, the teams’ last meeting was a 9-8 Georgetown victory in 2008 to close out the regular season. Overall, Georgetown is making its 11th appearance in the NCAA Championship and its eighth under BIG EAST membership. The Hoyas are led by juniors Molly Ford and Ashby Kaestner. Ford led the team with 68 points, including 52 goals while Kaestner was named the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year during the regular season with 42 goals and 18 assists.
As a league, the BIG EAST has seen a team advance to the NCAA quarterfinals each year since 2001. Heading into the NCAA Championship selections (through games of April 26), the BIG EAST had more teams (six) ranked in the top 30 of the NCAA RPI that any other conference. That included No. 6 Syracuse, No. 7 Georgetown and No. 8 Notre Dame.
The semifinals and title game of the 2009 NCAA Championship are set for May 22 and 24 at Minnegan Field in Towson, Md. First, second and quarterfinal games will be held on campus sites. The semifinal games will be broadcast live on the CBS College Sports Network at 6 and 8:30 p.m. on May 22. The championship game will be broadcast live at 5:30 p.m. on May 24.
Courtesy: BIG EAST Conference
