[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 157 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S LACROSSE TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 26, 2009

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Res. 824, a resolution I introduced to congratulate the Northwestern 
University women's lacrosse team for winning its fifth consecutive 
national championship.
  Madam Speaker, the Northwestern University lacrosse team completed 
the 2009 season with a record-setting 21-7 victory over North Carolina 
in the NCAA championship game on May 24. It capped a perfect 23-0 
season for head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller and her team, joining the 
2005 team as the second undefeated team in school history.
  The Wildcats faced numerous challenges in seeking their fifth 
consecutive championship, yet they rose to meet that challenge each and 
every time. For instance, when trailing Penn 12-11 with time running 
out in the first overtime period of the NCAA semifinals, Katrina Dowd 
flipped a miracle shot over her shoulder while falling to the turf, 
which somehow scored with 0.2 seconds remaining, tying the game at 12. 
The team went on to win the game in the second overtime period.
  As a team, the Wildcats set NCAA single-season records for points 
(570) and goals (407), while also leading the nation in draw controls 
(16.9 per game). Individually, Hannah Nielsen became the NCAA's single-
game (10), single-season (83) and career assist leader (224). Sixteen 
of Northwestern's 23 wins came against ranked opponents, and they were 
a perfect 10-0 at home, extending their home winning streak to 54, an 
NCAA record.
  In addition to the team honors, six Wildcats were awarded All-
American honors by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches 
Association (IWLCA) and U.S. Lacrosse. Hannah Nielsen and Katrina Dowd 
were named to the first team, while Hilary Bowen, Meredith Frank and 
Danielle Spencer all earned second-team honors and goalkeeper Morgan 
Lathrop was a third-team selection.
  In addition to being successes on the athletic field, this team is a 
success in the classroom as well. Fourteen members of the team were 
honored this year as being academic all-Big Ten honorees. The lacrosse 
team had 14 academic all-Big Ten honorees. And Senior Hilary Bowen was 
named ESPN the Magazine Women's At-Large Academic All-American of the 
Year.
  Lastly, while this team's intelligence, athletic prowess and 
determination are evident, I would like to share a story that 
demonstrates the team's heart and commitment to their community. During 
the 5-year championship run, the Northwestern lacrosse team has made an 
enduring and lasting friendship with 10-year-old Jaclyn Murphy. The 
friendship began as the Wildcats did what they could to raise the 
spirits of a young girl diagnosed with a brain tumor. Today, that 
friendship between NU and Jaclyn continues to deepen. After seeing the 
impact the team had on his daughter, Jaclyn's father Denis started the 
Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, a non-profit organization created to 
raise public awareness regarding pediatric brain tumors. To date, over 
three dozen collegiate and high school teams have ``adopted'' children 
with brain tumors.
  In conclusion Mr. Speaker, this team represents our nation's ideal of 
what the student athlete should be. Not only are the members of this 
team fantastic athletes and steller students, they are also wonderful 
people. I would like to recognize all the team members: Bea Conley, 
Danielle Spencer, Shannon Smith, Katrina Dowd, Rachel Fox, Kim 
Pantages, Erin Fitzgerald, Lizzie Abramson, Taylor Thornton, Alexandra 
Frank, Lacey Vigmostad, Colleen Magarity, Samantha Suntulli, Ali 
Cassera, Amanda Macaluso, Brooke Mathews, Gabrielle Flibotte, Maggie 
Bremer, Kirstyn Atkinson, Maria Tedeschi, Jessica Russo, Alexa Delyra, 
Brittany Wilbon, Darby St. Clair-Barrie, Brianne LoManto, and Sara 
Harrington, as well the coaches Kelly Hiller, Lindsey Munday, Ann 
Elliot, and Scott Hiller. I feel privileged to represent this team in 
Congress and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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