Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
2-0
Rutgers
0-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 12 | 9 | 21 |
| Rutgers | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Top-Ranked Wildcats Dominate Rutgers 21-4
2/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 24, 2008
Box Score
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Led by four goals each by junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) and sophomore Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton), top-ranked Northwestern pounced out to an early 12-1 lead and cruised to the 21-4 victory over Rutgers. The Wildcats improve to 2-0 on the season.
Aggressiveness was the goal for the `Cats from the opening whistle as Northwestern jumped out to a 4-0 lead with just over five minutes gone in the first half, thanks in part to a pair of goals from junior Casey Donohoe (Jarrettsville, Md./Notre Dame Prep). The Scarlet Knights cut into the lead at 4-1, but that is the closest Rutgers would get all afternoon as the Wildcats scored eight unanswered and took a 12-2 led into halftime.
Northwestern's mindset remained the same in the second half as the `Cats tallied the first nine goals of the second stanza to take a 21-2 lead and put the contest away. Nielsen finished the afternoon with eight points as she also added four assists in the win.
Donohoe and junior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) both registered a hat-trick for the Wildcats, while junior Ali Jacobs (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and freshman Brooke Matthews (Baltimore, Md./Friends School) each added a pair of goals. Junior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Hackley School) allowed only two Rutgers goals in 50 minutes of work.
From the outset, the `Cats controlled the tempo of the game, out-shooting the Scarlet Knights 23-6 in the first half en route to a 39-14 shot advantage for the contest.
Up next for Northwestern is a meeting with Hofstra on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in Hempstead, N.Y. The Pride are 2-0 on the season after defeating New Hampshire on Feb. 23. Opening draw is set for 3 p.m.
