Beardsley Scores a Career-High Four Goals, But Wildcats Fall to Terps

4/27/2017 9:53:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

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By: David Herder

EVANSTON, Ill. — Junior Nicole Beardsley scored a career-high four goals and Shelby Fredericks passed 100 career points, but the 14^th-ranked Northwestern lacrosse team couldn't keep pace with No. 1 Maryland, falling at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium Thursday evening, 18-9.

Northwestern came in to the game needing a win to claim a share of the Big Ten championship, and got off to a good start. After a quick Terrapin goal, Beardsley pulled the 'Cats even three and a half minutes in.

Nicole Beardsley ties things up with a FPS. #B1GCats https://t.co/nVVfSOonbL
— #B1GCats (@NU_Sports) April 28, 2017

At the first media timeout, Northwestern was outshooting Maryland 7-4, with a 4-2 in shots on goal. The Wildcats capitalized on that superiority with 19 minutes remaining in the half when freshman Megan Kinna raced the length of the field before finding Danita Stroup to take a 2-1 lead.

Danita Stroup gives the #B1GCats a 2-1 lead with a nifty finish. https://t.co/ywDeJsHpYA
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 28, 2017

Maryland scored four straight in seven minutes to take a 5-2 advantage before junior Sheila Nesselbush cut the deficit with 8:40 with a free position shot. Unfortunately, Maryland's momentum continued as they pulled ahead 8-3. Beardsley scored her second of the game just over a minute before halftime, marking her third straight with two goals, and fifth straight with at least two points.

Maryland added one more to take a 9-4 advantage into halftime. Despite the score line, Northwestern was holding their own, having taken only two fewer shots than the Terrapins, while holding a 12-2 advantage in the draw control.

Northwestern played Maryland even at the start of the second half, with both teams taking four shots in the first 10 minutes. Junior Shelby Fredericks found Beardsley for her third of the game just a minute into the half, before Maryland went on a five-goal run to lead 14-5 with 15:45 to play.

The Wildcats responded with a run of their own, starting when senior Christina Esposito scored her team-leading 40th goal of the year with 13:51 to play. Beardsley then put a free position shot just under the bar, before Stroup found the back of the net for the second time to make it 15-8 with 8:36 to play. Stroup added another goal with 4:54 left to play, but it was the last time the 'Cats found the back of the net as Maryland closed out the win.

Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in College Park next Friday as the No. 3 seed against No. 2 seed Penn State. The winner will advance to take on the winner of second semifinal matchup between No. 1-seed Maryland and No. 4-seed Johns Hopkins.

Game times for the Big Ten Tournament will be announced at a later date.