Northwestern
6-1
#4 Stony Brook
4-1
No. 3 Northwestern Outlasts No. 4 Stony Brook in Thriller
3/10/2023 9:59:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern's defense shone against a physical Stony Brook offense to preserve a 13-8 victory, extend the Wildcat winning streak to six games and hand the No. 3 Seawolves their first loss of the season.
Friday night's top 5 match-up was a battle that saw Northwestern commit 26 fouls and a total of 11 yellow cards across both teams. But the 'Cats fought through the physical play with poise, causing a whopping 10 turnovers and holding Stony Brook to their lowest goal total of the season.
Molly Laliberty was a brick wall between the pipes, posting 12 saves for her second highest save percentage of the season at .600. Laliberty was supported on the defensive end by Jane Hansen who caused two turnovers and picked up two ground balls.
THE LAKE SHOW PRESENTS...?? MOLLY LALIBERTY pic.twitter.com/AyNevAyWFj
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) March 11, 2023
Northwestern's midfield and offensive rotation also got in on the action, limiting Stony Brook to just 11 successful clears in 17 attempts. Hailey Rhatigan and Madison Taylor added two caused turnovers apiece to fuel that effort.
Unsurprisingly, the top goal-scorer in the nation Izzy Scane dominated the Wildcat offense, posting eight goals and one assist. Scane and Rhatigan cooked in their first appearance together, with three of Scane's goals coming from Rhatigan and Rhatigan's lone goal coming off a dime from Scane.
Madison Taylor takeaway ? Izzy Scane dime ? Hailey Rhatigan goal ?? ?perfection?
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) March 11, 2023
NU 9, SB 5 | 3Q pic.twitter.com/TQA07jU0ru
Erin Coykendall joined Scane and Rhatigan in leading the offensive effort, grabbing one goal and three assists. Dylan Amonte, Elle Hansen and Samantha Smith also added one goal each.
Erin Coykendall.
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) March 11, 2023
That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/PAzkq5VwXw
Northwestern found a 4 goal run in the first quarter to build a 5-3 lead and didn't look back from there. The Seawolves rallied in the final quarter to bring it within two, but goals from Scane and Hansen and a crucial save from Laliberty on a free position attempt put the game back in Northwestern's hands until the clock hit zero.
The Wildcats will remain at home for the final week of their homestand. On Thursday at 7 p.m. CT Northwestern will kick off the Big Ten season against Michigan before facing No. 1 North Carolina at 12:30 p.m. CT on Sunday.
