Monday, January 30
Evanston, Ill.
1 p.m.
Northwestern
1-0
9
vs
7
Canisius
0-1
1
2
F
Canisius
4
3
7
Northwestern
4
5
9
Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
No. 9 ’Cats Open Season with Win over Canisius, 9-7
1/30/2017 4:18:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — The ninth-ranked Northwestern lacrosse program opened the 2017 campaign with a win over Canisius on a cold and snowy day at Lanny and Sharon Stadium Monday, 9-7.
As the snow began to fall, the Wildcats' (1-0) offense heated up to score four-of-five goals and take control of the game midway through the second half. The Golden Griffins took a 5-4 lead with a goal by Erica Evans with 26:55 to play, but senior co-captain Christina Esposito scored back-to-back goals on assists from junior Corinne Wessels in a span of 33 seconds to put Chicago's Big Ten Team in front, 6-5.
Senior Danita Stroup extended the lead four minutes later when she took a behind-the-back feed from junior Selena Lasota in front of the crease and buried her shot to put NU up two, 7-5.
Evans cut the Wildcats' lead to one with just under 16 minutes to play, but Esposito scored her fourth of the game at the 13:51 mark and Wessels dished out her fourth assist of the game on a goal by sophomore Leighton Yenor just 53 seconds later to push the lead back to three, 9-6.
The Wildcats dominated the stat sheet from start to finish, finishing the game with a 34-16 advantage in shots and a 17-1 edge in draw controls, but a specatacular performance by Canisius' Rebecca VanLaeken helped keep the game close. VanLaeken finished with 16 saves for the Griffs.
Northwestern took an early 1-0 lead just 20 seconds into the contest on a free-position goal by Esposito, but were held off the board for the next 13-plus minutes as Canisius scored a pair of goals to the lead. Wessels scored her first of the season on a free-position of her own, but the Griffs once again responded on a goal by Tessa Chad to take the lead, 3-2.
Senior Catie Ingrilli scored her first of the season with 9:27 to play in the first half to even the game and Lasota got in on the scoring 51 seconds later on Wessels first assist of the game to give NU the lead, 4-3. Canisius tied the game going into the break on a goal by Jourdan Roemer with 3:41 to play.
Wessels finished with five points to lead the 'Cats while also matching her career high with three ground balls. Esposito had a team-high four ground balls and matched a career high with three caused turnovers to go with her four goals and Lasota had a career-high eight draw controls, three ground balls, a goal and an assist. Sophomore Claire Quinn had a career-high five ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Weisse made six saves in the contest to earn her 12th career victory.
Northwestern is back in action on Sunday when it travels to South Bend, Indiana to take on the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Opening draw is scheduled for noon.
As the snow began to fall, the Wildcats' (1-0) offense heated up to score four-of-five goals and take control of the game midway through the second half. The Golden Griffins took a 5-4 lead with a goal by Erica Evans with 26:55 to play, but senior co-captain Christina Esposito scored back-to-back goals on assists from junior Corinne Wessels in a span of 33 seconds to put Chicago's Big Ten Team in front, 6-5.
Senior Danita Stroup extended the lead four minutes later when she took a behind-the-back feed from junior Selena Lasota in front of the crease and buried her shot to put NU up two, 7-5.
Evans cut the Wildcats' lead to one with just under 16 minutes to play, but Esposito scored her fourth of the game at the 13:51 mark and Wessels dished out her fourth assist of the game on a goal by sophomore Leighton Yenor just 53 seconds later to push the lead back to three, 9-6.
The Wildcats dominated the stat sheet from start to finish, finishing the game with a 34-16 advantage in shots and a 17-1 edge in draw controls, but a specatacular performance by Canisius' Rebecca VanLaeken helped keep the game close. VanLaeken finished with 16 saves for the Griffs.
Northwestern took an early 1-0 lead just 20 seconds into the contest on a free-position goal by Esposito, but were held off the board for the next 13-plus minutes as Canisius scored a pair of goals to the lead. Wessels scored her first of the season on a free-position of her own, but the Griffs once again responded on a goal by Tessa Chad to take the lead, 3-2.
Senior Catie Ingrilli scored her first of the season with 9:27 to play in the first half to even the game and Lasota got in on the scoring 51 seconds later on Wessels first assist of the game to give NU the lead, 4-3. Canisius tied the game going into the break on a goal by Jourdan Roemer with 3:41 to play.
Wessels finished with five points to lead the 'Cats while also matching her career high with three ground balls. Esposito had a team-high four ground balls and matched a career high with three caused turnovers to go with her four goals and Lasota had a career-high eight draw controls, three ground balls, a goal and an assist. Sophomore Claire Quinn had a career-high five ground balls and a pair of caused turnovers.
Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Weisse made six saves in the contest to earn her 12th career victory.
Northwestern is back in action on Sunday when it travels to South Bend, Indiana to take on the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Opening draw is scheduled for noon.
••••••
Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!
Team Stats
CAN
NU
Shots
16
34
Turnovers
19
18
Caused Turnovers
8
9
Draw Controls
1
17
Free-Position Shots
0
7
Ground Balls
19
24
Game Leaders
Players
G
4
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
4
CT
3
G
1
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
0
G
1
A
1
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
3
CT
1
G
1
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's LacrosseLacrosse - 'Cats Fall to North Carolina in National Championship Game
Sunday, May 25
Lacrosse - NCAA Semifinal Postgame Press Conference (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Comeback 'Cats Take Down Boston College, 12-11, Advance to National Title Game (5/23/25)
Saturday, May 24
Lacrosse - Maddy Taylor Breaks NCAA Goals Record in Quarterfinal Win (5/15/25)
Thursday, May 15
