April 13, 2008

Box Score (PDF)

Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Top-ranked Northwestern survived an early Penn State charge and a late surge to defeat the Nittany Lions 13-12 at Bigler Field. The Wildcats, who improved to 13-0 on the season, won their 20th consecutive American Lacrosse Conference game and are now 3-0 in conference play this season.

Penn State (3-9, 0-2) had the early momentum, jumping out to a 3-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest, the largest deficit Northwestern had faced all season. Goals by juniors Casey Donohoe (Jarrettsville, Md./Notre Dame Prep) and Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) trimmed the lead to 3-2 before the Nittany Lions answered to go back on top 4-2.

The `Cats then settled into their typical game plan, scoring six unanswered goals, including two from sophomore Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton), to take an 8-4 lead with just under five minutes remaining. The teams would trade goals for the duration of the half, with sophomore Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) netting a goal with one second remaining to give NU the 10-6 halftime lead - a goal which would prove to be crucial in the final outcome.

With both teams slowing the pace in the second half, it appeared Northwestern was about to pull away with just under eight minutes remaining, as a goal from junior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) gave the `Cats a 13-9 lead. But the Nittany Lions were not about to go down without a fight, netting three goals in a one minutes span to cut the NU lead to 13-12 with five minutes remaining. Penn State gained control with a minute remaining and looked to send the game to overtime. But junior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Hackley School) intercepted a centering pass from behind the net and Northwestern survived with the 13-12 victory.

Dowd paced the Wildcats with four goals as Spencer added three of her own. Junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) continued her steller play, netting a goal and adding three assists, giving her 113 for her career. She now sits 15 assists behind Lindsey Munday on the all-time list. Nielsen and Bowen each extended their points streak to 35 games, while Bowen pushed her goal streak to 31 games.

Lathrop finished with seven saves, including a pair of crucial ones late to preserve the victory, NU's 34th consecutive. Senior defender Christy Finch (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) had a huge game for Northwestern, causing eight turnovers on the afternoon while scooping up four ground balls.

Northwestern returns home for a pair of big home games this week, hosting 17th-ranked Johns Hopkins on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m., in the Chipotle Big Game. The showdown against the Blue Jays will also be televised live on CSTV. The Wildcats then close out the regular season home schedule against 10th-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, April 20. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.