NORTHBESTERN

The Wildcats have scored seven unanswered goals to take a 7-2 lead. Actually, I don't believe that they were completely unanswered by the Cavs. I imagine UVA coach Myers muttering unmentionables under her breath with each succeeding Wildcat strike and then wondering aloud, "Perhaps I should have dressed up a bit more for this game. JDub is no one to model oneself after as a fashion plate."

Virginia just scored. It's 7-3.

God bless 'em, but I cannot fathom why anyone would want to be a lax goalie. Virginia's, Kendall McBrearty (and you couldn't make up a more fitting flax [female lax] name) has actually played very well, but it's just such a destined-to-fail job. I mean, have you felt a lax ball? Do you even want to stop it? Watching lax goalies reminds me of that bizarre "Shoot The Freak" attraction at Coney Island.

http://www.picpatrol.com/entry.php?category=13&entry_id=104&page=0

HEGEMONY? NO, SHEGEMONY

I've gone too far into this blog without lauding the ridonkulous dominance of the Northwestern women this season.

After losing their season opener, 9-8 in overtime to North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Wildcats have won twenty straight (Vanderbilt were the victims of their wrath in the next game, falling 20-2). Here's just some of the spectacular stats that--and I know numbers can be boring...except 99, that number's never boring...I mean, you've got Barbara Feldon and the luft balloons and....what were we talking about?--oh yes, Northwestern's nutty stats.

The Wildcats are dominant both offensively and defensively.

Numbers you should know:

1. Kristen Kjellman , the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner (and possible repeat winner when that name is announced on Wednesday) is the NCAA's all-time leader in tournament goals. She entered the game with 38 and has at least one this evening. Kjellman, by the way, is also a dead ringer for CNBC's Erin Brunette if Brunette had a younger sis with honey-blonde hair.

Check it out:

Kjellman:

http://nusports.cstv.com/sports/w-lacros/mtt/kjellman_kristen00.html

Brunette:

http://www.gogomag.com/eb/

Kjellman is also the first lax'er, male or female, to win the Tewaaraton Trophy who does not play for an East Coast school (don't get too hot and bothered, though; the award's only been around since 2001).

2. Northwestern leads the nation in scoring defense, entering tonight's game with a 5.9 goals-against average. Only Notre Dame has scored in double figures (an 18-10 Wildcat win) against them this spring.

3. Counting tonight's 11 goals (it's 11-6 late in the first half), Northwestern has broken the NCAA record for goals in a season. The previous record was 351 and they now have 357.

4. The Wildcats already set the single-season points (goals + assists) record before tonight's game, with 505. Right now they have...more than that.

4. They also, tonight, have broken the NCAA assists record in a season, which was 165.

5. The Cats will almost certainly break the NCAA record of 16.1 goals per game tonight. They entered the game averaging 16.4 per and they already have 11 in the first half.

6. Their goalie, Morgan Lathorp , entered tonight's game leading the nation in goals-against average (5.74) and in save percentage (.586).

7. Five different Northwestern players have scored 50 goals this season.

Remember, all of this is just in Northwestern's sixth season back. This would be their third championship in six seasons (they'd also become only the second team, after their coach's alma mater, Maryland, to win at least three in a row; Amonte Hiller steered to the first of five straight). This at a school which is not only not a powerhouse in its own conference, the Big Ten, but at a school located far away from the lacrosse breeding grounds of East Coast prep schools.

Truly an outstanding accomplishment.

Amonte Hiller, by the way, is a Massachusetts native. As is her top player, Kjellman, who as a high school senior in Westwood, Mass., led her school (Westwood) to its first state championship by scoring the game-winning goal in the final minute. Kjellman captained the lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams as a high school senior. The lax and hoops teams were a combined 168-12 during her career and Northwestern is 76-5 in her four seasons in Evanston.

Kids like that get on my nerves.

No, you get the feeling we'll all be working for her some day. She even was named the winner of the Wildcats' "Lax Idol" bus karaoke contest for two years. Kjellman: the kid's a winner.

At the half, it's Northwestern ahead, 11-6. Still a game.

Hey, and I just wanted to say: There are something like 56 NCAA varsity athletes on the field this evening. And almost all of them are going pro in something other than sports.