Northwestern Lacrosse Set to Face Penn State Nittany Lions
3/21/2024 11:02:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
The Wildcats hold a dominant historical record against the Nittany Lions, boasting a 23-5 all-time advantage, with victories in their last five matchups. The latest being a decisive 19-9 win at home on March 30, 2023. In their last meeting, a standout performance by Izzy Scane propelled the Wildcats to victory with 6 goals. Additionally, Samantha Smith (8) and Sammy White (7) demonstrated their dominance in the draw circle, contributing to Northwestern's commanding 23-9 lead in draw controls.
The WIldcats enter the game with an impressive 8-1 overall record, including a recent 14-9 victory over #12 Johns Hopkins, marking their 1-0 start in conference play. The Wildcats boast the nation's second-highest scoring offense, averaging 18 goals per game, and hold the third-highest scoring margin, with a difference of 8.33 goals per game. Sophomore standout Madison Taylor leads the charge, leading the nation in free position goals per game with 1.89 and topping the Big Ten in point totals with 51.
The Penn State Nittany Lions, currently 5-4 overall, are unranked but received votes in the IWLCA poll. They secured a recent 10-9 conference win over Rutgers and present a determined challenge for Northwestern. With 29 returning players from the previous season, including 12 who appeared in every game, Penn State possesses depth and experience across its roster.
The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.