No. 7 ’Cats Travel to No. 17 Penn State for Big Ten Showdown

4/13/2018 12:57:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Saturday, April 14	#17 Penn State	5 p.m.	University Park, Pa.	Live Stream	GoPSUSports.com
Social: Twitter (@NULax) \| Instagram (@NU_Lax) \| Facebook Game Notes: Northwestern \| Penn State

EVANSTON, Ill. — The seventh-ranked Northwestern lacrosse program will take its six-game winning streak and unblemished Big Ten record on the road to No. 17 Penn State Saturday.

The Wildcats and Nittany Lions are tied with Maryland atop the Big Ten standings with perfect 3-0 records. A win by the 'Cats would secure a spot in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Northwestern has won six-straight games to improve to 11-3 overall. The 'Cats have four wins over ranked foes during the stretch, including last Sunday's victory over No. 21 Notre Dame, 20-10. The six-game winning streak is the Wildcats' longest since winning six straight in 2013 when they advanced to the NCAA semifinals. The No. 7 ranking in the IWLCA poll and Inside Lacrosse Media Poll is the highest for the 'Cats since they were ranked No. 7 on March 21, 2016.

The 'Cats hold a 21-8 advantage over the Nittany Lions in the all-time series. The two teams have split meetings each of the last two seasons, with PSU claiming the regular season matchup and NU winning in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Last season, the 'Cats advanced to the Big Ten Championship with a 12-11 victory in the semis thanks to a game-winning goal by Megan Kinna with just 50 seconds remaining.

Junior attack Selena Lasota was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after tallying 12 points over two wins versus Ohio State and No. 21 Notre Dame. Lasota matched her season high with seven points versus the Fighting Irish.

20-20 WEEKEND
The Wildcat scored 20 goals in back-to-back contests for the first time since 2016 with wins over Ohio State, 20-6, and No. 21 Notre Dame, 20-10, last week. The 'Cats have scored 20-plus goals four times this season after failing to reach the mark once in 2017. The four 20-plus goals games are the most by the 'Cats since they did it eight times in 2009. NU ranks 19th in the country in scoring offense at 14.79 goals per game.

GOAL LIMIT: 10 & UNDER
In addition to the Wildcats' offensive prowess, the defense has continued to shine. The 'Cats have held 12 of 14 opponents to 10 goals or less this season and enter Saturday's game at Penn State ranked 12th in the country in scoring defense at 9.07 goals allowed per game. The combination has NU 10th in the country with a scoring margin of 5.71.

LASOTA IS LOCKED IN
Junior attack Selena Lasota was held scoreless in a victory at Johns Hopkins, but has since exploded to tally 18 points over her last three games. Lasota had a season-high five goals in a win at No. 6 Penn, recorded five points in a win over Ohio State and matched her season high with seven points versus No. 21 Notre Dame. The Campbell River, British Columbia, native leads the Wildcats in goals (39), points (49) and free-position goals (8). She became just the 11th NU player since 2002 to reach 200 career points last week.

IT'S A 1-2 PUNCH
Senior midfielder Sheila Nesselbush has also been on an offensive tear, recording 33 points during a career-long nine- game point streak. Nesselbush was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on April 3 after scoring nine goals in three wins over No. 6 Syracuse, No. 23 Johns Hopkins and No. 6 Penn. She followed it up with nine goals in two games versus Ohio State and No. 21 Notre Dame last week. The Penfield, New York, native is just seven goals shy of 100 for her career and has already set career highs this season in goals (33), assists (8) and points (41).

BETWEEN THE PIPES
Redshirt first-year goalkeeper Julie Krupnick has been among the best keepers in the country this season, ranking second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in goals-against average (9.36). She has held 12 of 14 opponents to 10 goals or less and has made double-digit saves five different times.

WIN AND DISH
Senior attack Shelby Fredericks is on the precipice of becoming Northwestern's all-time leader in draw controls while also climbing up the list of career assists. Fredericks is the nation's active leader with 448 career draw controls, just 21 shy of Alyssa Leonard's (2011-14) program record of 469. She leads the 'Cats and ranks second in the Big Ten this season with 21 assists despite missing the first four games of the season and has moved up to sixth in program history with 79 career helpers. Fredericks is just one assist shy of tying Hilary Bowen (2006-09) for fifth.

PAIR OF 'CATS NAMED TO TEWAARATON WATCH LIST
Senior midfielder Sheila Nesselbush and junior attack Selena Lasota were among 50 players named to the Tewaaraton Preseason Watch List last month. Lasota was named to the Tewaaraton list each of the last four years, while Nesselbush was recognized for the first time in her career.