Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Duquesne
Wildcats Down Duquesne, 10-4
3/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 10, 2003
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Northwestern women's lacrosse team continued its impressive second season, improving to 5-0 with a 10-4 victory over Duquesne Monday afternoon at Mount Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh.
As opposed to Saturday's ALC win over Ohio University, in which NU was forced to come back in the second half, the 'Cats jumped all over the Dukes and never looked back.
Courtney Flynn led the offensive charge with three goals -- her second three-goal game of the season -- while Lynda McCandlish added two more goals. Junior Courtney Koester had two goals, an assist and five draw controls; freshman Jenny Bush had a three-point day with a goal and two assists.
"I think we've done a good job so far this season," said head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "The fact that we are 5-0 is great. Today we stuck it out fitness-wise and came out of a hard game with a win. This trip was a big challenge and we responded.
"I also like the fact that we continue to get great balance on our attack."
Northwestern took immediate control of the game, scoring three times before the game was three minutes old and holding a 6-1 lead after 11 minutes. McCandlish got the ball rolling just 45 seconds in on an assist from Flynn, and then Flynn scored her first on an assist from Bush. Erin Flynn -- Courtney's twin sister -- notched NU's third goal, on Bush's second assist, before Duquesne finally got on the board when Ginger Flocco scored the first of her three goals on the day.
Northwestern came right back, as Courtney Flynn sandwiched goals around Koester's first tally. Duquesne cut two goals off of NU's five-goal lead when Flocco and Becca West scored two minutes apart midway through the half, but Northwestern had the last laugh when Bush scored off an assist from Abby Alley with 1:30 left. The Wildcats went into the break up 7-3.
NU did not allow Duquesne an opportunity to get back in the game, scoring three goals before Flocco could finally answer for the Dukes. Koester had a goal and an assist in the half, while Fixler and McCandlish also scored.
At the other end, Ashley Gersuk had 10 saves for Northwestern.
The 'Cats are now off for almost two full weeks before they hit the iron the schedule; they will play three American Lacrosse Conference games during spring break against three nationally ranked teams -- Ohio State (3/23 in Evanston), Vanderbilt (3/25 in Nashville) and Johns Hopkins (3/28 in Nashville).
GAME SUMMARY
Score by Half
Northwestern 7 3 -- 10
Duquesne 3 1 -- 4
Goals
Northwestern: C. Flynn 3, C. Koester 2, McCandlish 2, E. Flynn, Bush, Fixler.
Duquesne: Flocco 3, West.
Assists
Northwestern: Bush 2, Alley, Munday, E. Flynn, C. Koester, McMahon, C. Flynn.
Duquesne: Watkins.
Goalie Saves
Northwestern: Gersuk 10.
Duquesne: Pacini 15.
Shots on Goal: NU 34, Duquesne 17.
Free-Position Shots: NU 6, Duquesne 4.
Ground Balls: Duquesne 30, NU 27.
Caused Turnovers: NU 12, Duquesne 11.
Turnovers: NU 22, Duquesne 21.
Draw Controls: NU 11, Duquesne 5.
Fouls: Duquesne 15, NU 11.
