No. 10 'Cats Drop Overtime Thriller to No. 4 UNC, 9-8

3/20/2016 3:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. — Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way.

Despite a dominant second half and a dramatic goal with just five seconds left to send the game to overtime, the 10th-ranked Northwestern lacrosse squad dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to No. 4 North Carolin Sunday afternoon at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium, 9-8.

The Wildcats (3-4) scored four unanswered goals to start the second half in claiming a 7-6 lead, but the Tar Heels (7-2) scored back-to-back goals in a span of 11 seconds to retake the lead with 5:34 to play in regulation.

With just 21 seconds remaining, the 'Cats forced a turnover on the end line and called a timeout to draw up the perfect play. Sophomore Lindsay Darrell fed the ball to freshman goalkeeper Mallory Weisse who heaved an outlet pass to sophomore Shelby Fredericks at midfield. Fredericks moved the ball up the field and fed it to junior Catie Ingrilli who found Selena Lasota cutting just inside the eight-meter line for a goal with five seconds left on the clock.

Unfortunately, the excitement was short lived as the Tar Heels won a 50-50 ball on the opening draw of the overtime which resulted in the Wildcats being called for a foul and being a bit ouf of defensive position. Molly Hendrick and Aly Messinger were left alone behind the #B1GCats' defense and the two successfully converted the 2-on-1 situation with Hendrick finding Messinger for the game-winning goal just 14 seconds into the extra session.

Fredericks continued her recent dominant play in the draw circle all while tying her career high with three goals Sunday. Despite a 7-3 advantage in the draw circle at halftime, seven first-half turnovers proved costly for the Wildcats as they trailed at the break, 6-3. Fredericks had a pair of first half goals, the second of which tied the game at 2-2, but after junior Kaleigh Craig's first goal of the game at the 14:21 mark, UNC scored four-straight to close the half to take the lead.

NU came out and took control of the game in the second half thanks in large part to Fredericks' draw control prowess and the play of the Weisse. The freshman keeper made three of her nine saves in the second half, helping the 'Cats open the half with a 4-0 run.

Craig opened the scoring 3:21 into the half with her second of the game and Fredericks matched her career high on a feed from junior Christina Esposito by burying a shot lefty from 10 meters out with 20:38 to go in regulatioin. Another Craig goal, her third of the game, evened it at six apiece with 16:20 to play and Ingrilli found the back of the night from the right side of the fan just under two minutes later to give Chicago's Big Ten Team the lead, 7-6.

The Wildcats were able to run off nearly five minutes of clock after taking the lead and senior Nancy Dunbar ultimately found herself in a 1-on-1 opportunity with UNC keeper Caylee Waters, but Waters made the save and the Tar Heels tied the game again on a goal by Molly Hendrick with 5:45 to play.

Nortwestern sophomore Lindsay Darrell won the ensuing draw control, but was promptly surrounded by three UNC defenders inside the cirlce and a turnover led to a transition goal in just 11 seconds on a dish from Hendrick to Messinger.

NU finished the game with a 13-6 advantage in the draw circle as they have no outdrew their opponents 44-20 over the last three games. Fredericks finished with eight draw controls, just one shy of her season and career high.

The Wildcats wrap up their four-game homestand on Thursday night under the lights when they host Colorado at 6 p.m.