:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63338255/image_handler.0.jpg)
This past Sunday, Northwestern (8-3, 2-0 B1G) defeated fifth-ranked Penn (8-2) 17-13. This extended the Wildcats’ win streak to four games, with three of those victories coming in the last ten days. Northwestern is now ranked sixth in the Inside Lacrosse poll and still have second ranked Maryland, fourth ranked Notre Dame, and eighth ranked Michigan to face.
Senior Selena Lasota’s six goals powered her to becoming the fourth player in Northwestern history to reach 300 career points. Freshman Izzy Scane, who has won two straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week awards, tallied 4 goals and two assists along with five draw controls.
The Wildcats quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Quakers, with Lasota, Gilbert, McKone, and Scane responsible for the goals. Northwestern scored on their first eight shots of the game, maintaining the explosive offense that has powered the team to this point. Scane continued her personal four game streak of hat tricks, tallying her third goal shortly before half time.
The Wildcats entered the second half up 13-7, but continued to pour it on, with Lasota and Scane quickly scoring back to back goals to extend the Wildcats’ lead to eight. Towards the end of the game, the pace slowed slightly with only two goals (one per team) being scored in the last ten minutes of the half. Scane has complicated the Wildcats offensive attack, which has given teams more difficulty in defending the ‘Cats.
The Wildcats also defeated Penn State (4-6, 0-3) 19-11 this past Thursday, with a six goal performance from Lasota and four scores from Scane. The Wildcats won 22 out of 33 draw controls and had a five goal lead at half.
Northwestern started spring break with a 24-4 massacre over Marquette. Scane led the team with a game-high five goals, giving her a second straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor. Scane also had an assist and won five draw controls in what amounted to pure domination of an overmatched team.
The Wildcats next play on Saturday morning (9 am CST), traveling to Baltimore to face the 17th ranked Johns Hopkins Blue Jays before playing the three aforementioned top ten teams.