Big success in college softball, tennis, lacrosse
Spring in Chicago usually means rain and cold. And more rain and more cold.
Not exactly ideal conditions for softball, tennis, or lacrosse.
But, once again, we're seeing extraordinary levels of success in these sports for the women's teams at some of our local universities. In fact, the spring season on the women's side seems to be more noteworthy in the Chicago area than any other season on the athletic calendar.
Drive for 5: It wouldn't be spring without a Northwestern lacrosse national championship. Seriously.
The Wildcats have won the last four national titles (beginning in 2005) and seem well on their way to winning a fifth. (Championship rings for every finger - and thumb!)
Northwestern entered the American Lacrosse Conference championship this weekend with a perfect 17-0 record and the No. 1 ranking in the nation. The Wildcats lead the nation in scoring offense, scoring margin and are second in scoring defense.
Hannah Nielsen, who won the Tewaaraton award last season as the top player in the country, was recently named the ALC's league player of the year for the second consecutive year. It's the fifth year in a row that a Northwestern player has won the honor. Meanwhile, goalie Morgan Lathrop was named ALC goalie of the year and Kelly Amonte Hiller was named the ALC coach of the year for the fifth time in her eight-year career.
Softball city: The Northwestern and DePaul softball teams have always had a rich tradition of success, and it continues this season.
The Wildcats, who have advanced to the final 16 in the NCAA tournament the last four years, are 29-11 and ranked 10h in the country.
The team's four seniors - Erin Dyer, Ashley Lafever, Jessica Rigas and Tammy Williams - boast two Big Ten titles, three super regional appearances and two College World Series berths. And the well won't run dry once they leave. Freshman Adrienne Monka was recently named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week.
Across town, DePaul is 34-11 and ranked 19th in the country.
Recently, legendary coach Eugene Lenti became just the 12th softball coach in Division I to win his 1,000th game, and that prompted Mayor Richard M. Daley to proclaim April 25 Coach Eugene Lenti Day in Chicago. In his 28 years at DePaul, Lenti has won 1,015 games and has taken four teams to the Women's College World Series, all since 1999.
This season the Blue Demons are fighting for their second Big East crown. Senior all-American Amber Patton leads the nation with a .521 batting average.
Tennis time: Watch out Serena and Venus Williams! Northwestern, UIC and DePaul are producing some darn good tennis players.
The Wildcats, who won the Big Ten Tournament, have earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA team tournament. And sophomore Maria Mosolova claimed the top seed in the 64-player singles bracket.
NU has won the Big Ten tourney 11 years in a row and rolled through the league schedule undefeated for the fifth straight year. Claire Pollard earned her second straight Big Ten coach of the year award, the fifth of her career, and Mosolova repeated as Big Ten player of the year.
Meanwhile, UIC won its 13th consecutive Horizon League Championship recently. Amazingly, the Flames haven't lost to a conference foe during the regular season or in the league tournament since 1996. That adds up to 113 straight victories.
UIC will be making its 11th straight NCAA tournament appearance with freshman Mariya Kovaleva leading the way. She was named the 2009 Horizon League player and newcomer of the year.
Finally, the DePaul tennis team placed second at the Big East Conference Championship, its best finish ever.
The Blue Demons, behind all-tournament team selections Dunja Antunovic, Anna Redecsi, Selma Salkovic and Katarina Milinkovc, ascended as high as No. 26 in the national rankings this season, a program best.
The breakout season earned Mark Ardizzone Big East coach of the year honors.
pbabcock@dailyherald.com