Thursday, April 7

Evanston, Ill.

6 p.m.

Northwestern

5-6, 1-1B1G

Michigan

5-8, 0-2B1G

Team	1	2	Final F
Michigan	0	4	4
Northwestern	15	5	20

Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera

Wildcats' Offense Explodes in 20-4 Victory over Michigan

4/7/2016 9:27:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern became the first program to score 20 goals in a Big Ten women's lacrosse game in defeating Michigan at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium Thursday night, 20-4.

The last time the Wildcats scored 20 goals was also against the Wolverines in a 20-6 victory on March 11, 2014. Women's lacrosse became a sport of the Big Ten conference in 2015.

The Wildcats' (5-6, 1-1 Big Ten) offense exploded and their defense dominated from the first whistle en route to building a 15-0 lead in the first half and a lead as large as 17-0. Sophomore attacker Selena Lasota opened the scoring with a free-position goal just 38 seconds into the contest and went on to score five goals in the first half alone.

Lasota matched her career high with six goals while finishing with three ground balls, three draw controls and a caused turnover. With her six goals, Lasota surpassed the 100-career point mark.

Chicago's Big Ten Team forced Michigan into 11 first-half turnovers, but the offensive domination started for the most part in the draw control circle thanks to sophomore Shelby Fredericks. The Wildcats held a 13-3 advantage at the half in the draw circle with Fredericks recording five herself in the first 30 minutes.

After Lasota opened the scoring, junior Christina Esposito extended her career-long point streak to seven games with her 14th goal of the season. Lasota followed with back-to-back goals before junior Catie Ingrilli notched her eigth tally of the season to extend the lead to 5-0 with 20:05 left in the first half.

Fredericks extended her career-long point streak to 10 games with an assist on senior Kaleigh Craig's first goal of the game at the 19:19 mark and then scored a goal of her own just 1:08 later on a great feed from behind the cage by Esposito. Lasota's fourth goal of the half made it an 8-0 game and Craig scored her second of the half on a feed from fellow Wantagh, New York native Ingrilli with 15:27 on the clock.

Another goal by Esposito less than a minute later made it a 10-0 lead and turned on a running clock, but the Wildcats weren't done firing on all cylinders. Craig scored her second of the game thanks to a caused turnover by classmate Spring Sanders and freshman Kim Harker scored her first career goal with 10:13 left in the first to extend the lead to 12-0.

Lasota matched her season high with her fifth goal with 6:48 on the clock and after another Fredericks draw win, the sophomore found junior Danita Stroup who buried a goal for the fourth-consecutive game. Sophomore Lindsay Darrell capped the first half scoring with 3:47 to play, taking a feed from Esposito and burying her first career goal to give the #B1GCats a 15-0 lead at the break.

With the clock running, Esposito notched her third goal of the game and seventh in the last two games with 26:40 to play. Lasota matched her career high with her sixth goal at the 22:32 mark of the second half, matching the Wildcats' season high in goals as they took a 17-0 lead.

Michigan was able to get on the board with back-to-back goals before junior Lydia Cassada found freshman Leighton Yenor with 16:59 to play. Cassada scored a goal of her own with 9:19 to play on a feed by redshirt junior Hadley Brooke and Brook dished out her second assist of the game on senior Carolina Lizzio's first career goal with just 34 seconds left for the final 20-4 tally.

The Wildcats finished with a 19-6 advantage in draw controls, 20-16 lead in ground balls and outshot the Wolverines, 38-12. The 'Cats finished with just 12 turnovers to Michigan's 16.

Freshman goalkeeper Mallory Weisse picked up the win, staying focused despite the big lead and finishing with six saves - including five in the second half.

Junior Julia DiMaria came off the bench and had a career-high two draw controls and freshman Brigid White had two ground balls in her first career apperance. Fredericks led the 'Cats with six draw controls and Craig set a new career high with three caused turnovers.

The Wildcats will be back in action with another showdown against a top-5 opponent when they take on No. 5 Notre Dame Sunday at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.