Northwestern University Athletics
Thornton, Cassera Earn American Lacrosse Conference Weekly Honors
3/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 31, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern freshmen Taylor Thornton (Dallas, Texas/Hockaday School) and Ali Cassera (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) have each been honored by the American Lacrosse Conference for their performances against Ohio State on March 24, being named the ALC's Defensive and Rookie Players of the Week respectively. It marks the first conference accolades of their young Wildcat careers.
Thornton played a key role in Northwestern's defensive game plan against the Buckeyes, setting a personal-best by causing four Ohio State turnovers while also scooping up four ground balls on the evening. She was a force all over the field for the Wildcats, winning a pair of draw controls while assisting on teammate Shannon Smith's goal which put Northwestern on top for good. Thornton leads the team with 14 caused turnovers and her 17 ground balls is also tied for the team-best.
Cassera set a personal-best with four goals on four shots against Ohio State, including three in the first half to help spark a 10-0 Wildcat charge. She notched Northwestern's first goal of the game, tying the contest at one, while connecting on a free position attempt late in the first half. Cassera is tied for fifth on the team with seven goals and ranks seventh in points with eight with five ground balls and a pair of draw controls.
The freshman tandem becomes the fourth and fifth Wildcat players to receive ALC weekly honors this season. Katrina Dowd has been named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week twice while Maggie Bremer and Brianne LoManto have both garnered Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Coming off their decisive 15-5 victory over 14th-ranked Notre Dame Tuesday night, Thornton, Cassera and the rest of the Wildcats now set their sights on fifth-ranked Duke. Northwestern travels to Durham for an 11 a.m. CT showdown this Saturday, April 3, in a game that will mark this year's Friends of Jaclyn Brain Tumor Awareness Challenge.
2010 Northwestern ALC Player of the Week Honors
Katrina Dowd - Offensive (March 1)
Katrina Dowd - Offensive (March 8)
Maggie Bremer - Defensive (March 8)
Brianne LoManto - Defensive (March 22)
Taylor Thornton - Defensive (March 29)
Ali Cassera - Rookie (March 29)
