Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State
Wildcats Host No. 5 Penn State, No. 20 Duke at Martin Stadium
4/12/2017 6:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
| NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAMEDAY INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
| Thursday, April 13 | No. 5 Penn State | 7 p.m. | Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium | BTN Plus on BTN2Go | GameTracker |
| Saturday, April 15 | No. 20 Duke | 3:30 p.m. | Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium | BTN Plus on BTN2Go | GameTracker |
| Social: Twitter (@NULax and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@NU_Lax) | Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern | Penn State | Duke |
|||||
EVANSTON, Ill. — The 16th-ranked Northwestern lacrosse team will host a pair of ranked foes this week at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium. The Wildcats will look to stay unbeaten in Big Ten play when it plays host to No. 5 Penn State (13-1, 3-0) on Thursday night before No. 20 Duke (7-6) visits Martin Stadium on Saturday.
Chicago's Big Ten Team can clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament with a win over the Nittany Lions. The 'Cats enter Thursday's contest tied atop the Big Ten with Maryland and Penn State at a perfect 3-0.
Northwestern will host its annual Senior Day prior to Saturday's contest versus the Blue Devils. Opening draw is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. with pregame ceremonies staring at approximately 3:15.
SENIOR STROUP EARNS BIG TEN HONORS
Senior attacker Danita Stroup was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career Tuesday after scoring a career-high six goals in a 15-8 victory at Ohio State last week. Stroup scored three goals in each half to extend her career-long goal streak to eight games. She already has surpassed her career high for goals scored and ranks second on the team with 25 through 13 games.
QUINN LEADING THE LEAGUE
Sophomore defender Claire Quinn continues to lead the Big Ten in caused turnovers (22) and caused turnovers per game (1.69), while ranking third in ground balls (32) and ground balls per game (2.46). She tied the second-best mark in program history with six caused turnovers in a win over Johns Hopkins on March 30 and is just seven shy of tying Alex Frank (2009) for No. 10 on NU's single-season chart.
FREDERICKS DOMINATING THE CIRCLE
Junior Shelby Fredericks is once again among the nation's leaders in draw controls, entering the week ranked fifth with 7.17 per game. Fredericks' 86 draw controls this season have brought her career total to 281, moving her past Kristen Kjellman (2004-07) for second on the NU career list. The Babylon, New York, native is fifth among active players with a career mark of 5.20 draw controls per game, while her 273 mark is the third most among active NCAA Division I players.
LOCK DOWN
Northwestern has limited its last five opponents to 10 goals or fewer, allowing just 8.6 goals per game during the stretch. The 'Cats have held each of its three Big Ten foes under 10 goals, giving up just eight goals to Michigan and Ohio State, and nine to Johns Hopkins in an overtime win.
RESPECT YOUR ELDER
After missing the majority of her freshman season due to injury, sophomore attacker Liza Elder has started to find her rhythm over the last seven games. Elder has recorded three multi-goal games and four multi-point games during the stretch, recording the first 11 points (8g/3a) of her career. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native matched her career high with two goals last week at Ohio State, while picking up a career-high three ground balls as well.
INGRILLI IN A GROOVE
Senior midfielder Catie Ingrilli continues to be a key cog from end to end for the Wildcats, putting up career numbers in the process. Ingrilli recorded a career-high four points for the second time in the last three games with a pair of goals and assists in the Wildcats' 15-8 win at Ohio State. The Wantagh, New York, native already has career highs in goals (18), assists (6), points (24), shots (54), ground balls (21), free-position goals (12) and draw controls (5) through 13 games this season.
CLEAN IT UP
Junior midfielder Sheila Nesselbush had a career-high eight ground balls at Ohio State, matching the third-best single-game mark in program history. Nesselbush played in just four games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, but has begun to find her form with 11 goals, one assist, 21 ground balls and 15 draw controls through 13 games.
GO, GO ESPO
Senior co-captain Christina Esposito extended her career-long point streak to 30 games with her team-leading 33rd goal of the season at Ohio State. In addition to leading the team in goals, Esposito leads the squad in points (41), shots (84), game-winning goals (3), free-position goals (12) and is second on the team with eight assists.
