Lasota Takes Over to Lead 'Cats Past Ohio State, 22-13

Friday, April 29

Columbus, Ohio

4 p.m.

Northwestern

8-8, 3-2

Ohio State

11-5, 2-3

Northwestern

Ohio State

Lasota Takes Over to Lead 'Cats Past Ohio State, 22-13

4/29/2016 7:34:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

By: Kyle Kelley

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Selena Lasota wasn't going to let Northwestern lose.

The sophomore took over in the second half and ended the day with a career-high eight goals, one assist, six draw controls, three caused turnovers and two ground balls to lead the 15th-ranked Wildcats past No. 19 Ohio State Friday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, 22-13.

Lasota's eight goals tied the second-best mark in program history and are the most scored by a player in the Big Ten this season.

Senior Kaleigh Craig matched her career high with six points (4g/2a), junior Christina Esposito matched her career high with five points on a career-high four assists and a goal and freshman Leighton Yenor scored three goals for the first time this season. Yenor has now scored seven goals over the last three games.

Sophomore Shelby Fredericks also had three goals in the win and junior Danita Stroup notched her third-consecutive game with two goals.

With the win, the 'Cats evened their record at 8-8 on the year and finished Big Ten play with 3-2 record to earn the No. 3 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Chicago's Big Ten Team will play either Rutgers or Michigan in the first round of the tournament. The Scarlet Knights and Michigan conclude the regular season with a matchup Piscataway, New Jersey, Sunday afternoon.

Northwestern held a 10-7 lead at halftime and pushed it to 11-7 just 27 seconds into the second half on Craig's third goal of the game, but the Buckeyes (11-5, 2-3 Big Ten) scored four unanswered goals in less than three minutes to tie the game with 25:54 to play, 11-11.

It was then that Lasota took over and willed the Wildcats to victory. Lasota won the ensuing draw control and scored just eight seconds after the Buckeyes' equalizer and followed with her fifth goal of the game 42 seconds after that to give the 'Cats the lead, 13-11.

Sophomore Shannon Nesselbush scored her first career goal on her first career shot with 20:52 to go and Lasota followed with a pair of goals in a span of 12 seconds; the first coming with 19:27 on the clock to match her career high and the second at 19:15 on a free-position attempt that marked a new career high of seven goals.

Fredericks capped a 6-0 run with a backhanded goal and started another 4-0 run three minutes later to match her career high of three goals for the third time this season.

Craig found Stroup for her second goal, Lasota dished to Yenor for her third goal and Craig gave the 'Cats a new season high with 21 goals on her fourth goal of the game to extend the lead to 21-12.

Lasota put an exclamation point on the day when she scored her eighth goal of the contest to cap the final 22-13 tally.

Seven different players finished with at least two ground balls led by Craig's four as the Wildcats held a 21-15 advantage on the ground. Lasota and senior Lauren Murray each had a team-high three caused turnovers, while senior Spring Sanders and Craig each had a pair.