College notes: Penn moves to top of Division I polls

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/29/08

The Pennsylvania women’s lacrosse team – fresh off perhaps its biggest win in school history – has vaulted to the No. 1 spot for the first time in its history in two major Division I polls.

The Quakers (13-1) are tied with Northwestern (15-1) in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association/Under Armour National Poll (391 points). They also are alone at the top of the Inside Lacrosse media poll, one point ahead of Northwestern.

Both polls were released Tuesday.

Penn defeated Northwestern – the three-time defending NCAA champion – 11-7 Sunday at Franklin Field to snap the Wildcats’ 36-game win streak.

The Quakers close their regular season Saturday (1 p.m.) against Atlantic 10 champion and city rival Temple at Franklin Field. The first round of the NCAA tourney is Sunday, May 11.

Penn earned several individual honors after its win over Northwestern. Freshman Giulia Giordano claimed her first honor on the offensive side while Sarah Waxman was named the defensive player for the second week.

Giordano led the Quaker offense with three goals and two assists against the Wildcats. Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, Waxman made seven big saves

The Wildcats entered the game averaging 16.80 goals per game—the second highest in the country, but Waxman and the defense shut out NU in the second half. The Quakers have not allowed any team to score more than 10 goals this season.

Landmark Conference honors
Goucher senior midfielder Kate Knitter (Pennridge) and Catholic freshman attacker Katie Buonpastore (Lansdale Catholic) were named to the landmark Conference first-team all-league squad. Knitter had 51 goals and 13 assists for Goucher (6-9) while Buonpastore has 12 goals and 18 assists for Catholic (13-4, ranked 17th), which hosts Susquehanna for the Landmark title Wednesday.

Making the league’s second team were junior defender Cindy Wilson (Henderson) and senior attacker Erin McGarrigle (Great Valley) of Susquehanna and freshman defender Katie Slade (Central Bucks East) of Scranton.