May 28, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – As was the case many times throughout their four-year careers as women’s lacrosse student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame, alums Jenny Granger and Ellie Hilling came up big for their team one more time Sunday as the duo helped lead the North squad to a come-from-behind 9-8 win over the South team at the 2013 IWLCA Division I North-South All-Star game at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa. Granger scored the game-winner with 2:58 left in the contest, while Hilling made seven saves and earned game MVP honors after entering the contest at halftime with her team trailing, 6-4.
With the North down as the two teams entered the locker room for halftime, the North turned to Hilling to help jumpstart the rally. The Rochester, N.Y., native answered the bell, making seven critical saves and allowing only two goals in the second frame, including a sequence of three straight saves on one South possession during the middle of the half right before the North squad found the equalizer with 10:57 remaining.
Granger made her presence known late in the contest as she capitalized on a pass from Princeton’s Cori Murray to put the ball past Virginia’s Kim Kolarik with just minutes remaining to seal the remarkable comeback for the North team.
Hilling had a spectacular senior season between the pipes, starting all 17 games, as she secured her place in the Irish record books by taking over first in school goalie history for minutes played (4,151:58), games played (71), games won (44) and saves (528).
The four-year starter had 13 games with six or more saves, including nine games with double-digit totals. She also had eight games with two or more ground balls, including six in a win over Georgetown, tying her career high. Hilling earned a spot on the BIG EAST’s Weekly Honor Roll twice (March 25, April 15) – once after 20 saves and seven ground balls in wins over Rutgers and Villanova and again after 24 saves and eight ground balls in a 1-1 week against Loyola and Georgetown.
Hilling earned first team all-BIG EAST and all-region accolades earlier this month.
Granger turned in an impressive senior campaign as the co-captain started all 17 games and led the Irish in goals (31) and assists (22). She had 10 games with two or more goals, including a streak of nine games in a row from March 2 to April 12. Her season high came when she scored five times and totaled seven points in a thrilling 16-15 double overtime win at Louisville. Granger also had six games with two or more assists, including a season-high four in a 14-5 win over Marquette. She earned a spot on the BIG EAST’s Weekly Honor Roll once (March 25) after scoring four goals and dishing out three assists in wins over Rutgers and Villanova.
The East Setauket, N.Y., native earned first team all-BIG EAST and second team IWLCA all-West/Midwest Region honors in the last month.
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2013 IWLCA Division I North-South All-Star Game
Scoring: North: Hillier (3+0), Cook (2+1), Etrasco (2+0), Mangan (1+0), Granger (1+0), Burek (0+1)
South: DePompeo (3+0), Jackson (2+0), Parcell (1+0), Swavola (1+0), Oliverio (1+0)
Goalkeepers: North: Hicks (30 mins, 4 svs, 6 GA); Hilling (30 mins, 7 svs, 2 GA)
South: Kolarik (60 mins, 6 svs, 9 GA)
Shots: North 20, South 24
Draws: North 8, South 11 (Poplawski 4)
Ground balls: North 6, South 6
Turnovers: North 12, South 7
Caused turnovers: North 1, South 4
8-meter attempts: North 2, South 7
–ND–