Sunday, May 15

South Bend, Ind.

1 p.m.

Northwestern

11-10

Notre Dame

14-6

Team	1	2	Final F
Northwestern	3	0	3
Notre Dame	7	8	15

Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera

Wildcats' Season Ends at Hands of No. 6 Notre Dame, 15-3

5/15/2016 4:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Northwestern fell to No. 6-seed Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Arlotta Stadium Sunday afternoon, 15-3

The Wildcats (11-10) were doomed by 13 first-half turnovers and failed to score in the second half thanks in part to the stellar play of Fighting Irish (14-6) goalkeeper Samantha Giacolone's seven saves in the final 30 minutes of play.

Freshman Mallory Weisse made 10 saves to finish her first season in the purple and white with 158 stops, just two shy of Morgan Lathrop's record of 160 set in 2007. Junior Christina Esposito led the way offensively with two points on a goal and assist, sophomore Selena Lasota tallied her 50th goal of the season and senior Kaleigh Craig scored her 53rd.

Sophomore Shelby Fredericks also had an assist in the game, extending her career-long point streak to 20 games.

The Fighting Irish led from start to finish, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first 11 minutes taking advantage of four NU turnovers.

Esposito finally got the 'Cats on the board by converting a free-position with 18:23 to go in the first half and Fredericks found Craig behind the defense on the ensuing draw control for the senior's 53rd goal of the season just 24 seconds later to cut the deficit to two, 4-2.

Unfortunately, the turnovers continued for the 'Cats and they mustered just two more shots the rest of the half. Lasota converted one of the two shots on a pass from Esposito at the 8-meter arc with 5:42 to play in the first half, but the Irish got one more goal from Kiera McMullan to lead 7-3.

The second half saw more chances for the Wildcats as they were able to put eight of their 10 shots on goal, but Giacolone made seven of her eight saves in the final 30 minutes to thwart any chance of a comeback.

Defensively, Lasota, Esposito, sophomore Shannon Nesselbush and senior Lauren Murray each had a pair of caused turnovers. Nesselbush led the 'Cats with a career-high four ground balls.

The loss ends the careers of eight seniors - Craig, Murray, Hadley Brooke, Spring Sanders, Jessica Dahldorf, Emily Eichner, Nancy Dunbar and Carolina Lizzio - who won 58 games and advanced to the NCAA semifinals twice during their four years.

GAME NOTES

- Freshman goalkeeper Mallory Weisse recorded her eighth double-digit save effort of the season. She made 22 saves in two NCAA Tournament games, finishing the season with the third-most saves in a single season at 158.

- Senior Kaleigh Craig scored her in 17th consecutive game, marking the longest streak of her career. She finished the season with a team-best 53 goals and 67 points. Her 134 career goals sit just outside the top 10 in program history.

- Junior Christina Esposito had one goal and one assist to lead the team with two points. After missing parts of each of the two previous seasons, Esposito played in and started all 21 games this season to finish with career highs in goals (34), assists (22), points (56), ground balls (19), draw controls (16) and caused turnovers (20). She had a point in each of the last 16 games and her 22 assists this season were the most since Shannon Smith had 28 in 2012.

- Sophomore Selena Lasota scored a goal in her 11th consecutive game and finished the year with an even 50 tallies.

- Sophomore Shelby Fredericks had a team-high six draw controls to finish the season with 122 total. Her 122 draw controls in 2016 are the third most in a season in program history.