Wildcats Wrap Up Homestand against No. 6 USC, Rutgers

4/14/2016 1:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAME DAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Friday, April 15	No. 6 USC	7 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN Plus on BTN2Go	GameTracker
Sunday, April 17	Rutgers	12 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN Plus on BTN2Go	GameTracker
Social: Twitter (@NULax and @NU_SportsLive) \| Instagram (@NU_Lax) \| Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern \| USC \| Rutgers

EVANSTON, Ill. — The 12th-ranked Northwestern lacrosse program will look to finish the home portion of its regular season strong when it plays host to No. 6 USC and Rutgers this weekend at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.

The Wildcats (6-6) will look to push their winning streak to three games when they play host to the Women of Troy (13-0) Friday night at 7 p.m. The Trojans are one of just two undefeated teams in remaining in the nation and are led by former Wildcat star and 2015 Northwestern Hall of Fame inductee Lindsey Munday.

Chicago's Big Ten Team will host the Scarlet Knights (3-9, 0-2 Big Ten) on Sunday at 12 p.m. looking for its second-straight conference victory as they continue their push for higher seeding for the 2016 Big Ten Tournament hosted at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium May 5-8.

Sunday's contest against the Scarlet Knights will be our annual pledge-per-goal game. You can make your commitment today by CLICKING HERE. After the game, we'll send you a reminder and you can complete your gift.

Seating at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium is general admission for the 2016 season. Single-game tickets are available for $7 adult, $5 youth/senior and $3 groups (15 or more). Fans should park in the north garage of the Henry Crown Sports Pavillion. Parking is free in the garage after 4 p.m. and on weekends.

***BUY TICKETS NOW***

READ, SET... DRAW!
Sophomore Shelby Fredericks has posted three double-digit draw control games in her last five contests to move up to No. 8 in the country in draw controls per game at 6.2 per contest. Fredericks has already surpasses her season total from a year ago and her 74 draw controls this season ranks eighth in NU modern era single-season history.

ON THE ATTACK
Fredericks has also shown off her offensive skill set since being held without a point in the season opener. She has 26 points (16g/10a) during a career-long 11-game point streak that includes nine multi-point games. She has already matched her point total from her freshman campaign with 26 points and has scored a career-high three goals two different times this season. Fredericks is second on the team with 10 assists.

NOT ALL OFFENSE
Senior Kaleigh Craig leads the Wildcats in goals and points this season, but it was her defense that stood out in a pair of wins over Michigan and Notre Dame last week to earn her Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors. Craig scored five goals and had a pair of assists in the two games, but she also had a career-high three caused turnovers against Michigan and caused two more against the Fighting Irish.

BACK TO FORM
After a pair of injuries shortened two season, redshirt junior captain Christina Esposito has returned to her attacking form in 2016. Esposito enters Friday's game against USC riding a career-long eight-game point streak and has posted a career-high five points in each of the last three games. Esposito has nine multi-point games this season, leads the team with 13 assists and is second on the eam with 33 points. She has scored a career-high four goals two times in the last three games.

BRICK WALL
Freshman goalkeeper Mallory Weisse was named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week Tuesday after allowing 8.0 goals per game and making 14 saves in the Wildcats' wins over Michigan and Notre Dame. The honor was Weisse's second freshman honor of the season and third overall as she was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on March 29.

IT WAS QUITE THE DEBUT
Before anyone knew what was to become of Selena Lasota, she put her skills on display in the Wildcats' season opener last year at USC. With the Wildcats falling behind 6-0 to start the game, Lasota scored four goals - including the game winner - and dished out a pair of assists in her debut to lead the 'Cats to a dramatic 12-11 overtime victory at The Coliseum in Los Angeles.

250 IN SIGHT
Head Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is now just one win shy of number 250 in her career following last Sunday's 17-12 win over Notre Dame. She enters the weekend with a career record of 249-51 overall (.830 winning percentage) and is 3-0 against the Women of Troy.

WELCOME HOME
USC head coach Lindsey Munday and assistant coach Alyssa Leonard will return to the shores of Lake Michigan for the first time as opponents on Friday night. Munday launched the USC program four years ago after helping the Wildcats earn five national championships; two as a student-athlete (2005-06) and three as an assistant coach (2006-09). Leonard won a pair of national championships as well with the Wildcats (2011-12) and was named Northwestern's Female Athlete of the Year in 2014. Leonard is still the program's all-time leader in draw controls with 469.