April 13, 2008

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Top-ranked Northwestern survived an early Penn State charge and a late surge to defeat the Nittany Lions 13-12 at Bigler Field. The Wildcats improve to 13-0 on the season and won its 20th consecutive American Lacrosse Conference game, sitting at 3-0 in conference play.

Penn State (3-9, 0-2) had the early momentum, jumping out to a 3-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest, the largest deficit Northwestern had faced all season. Goals by juniors Casey Donohoe (Jarrettsville, Md./Notre Dame Prep) and Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) trimmed the lead to 3-2 before the Nittany Lions answered to go back on top 4-2.

The `Cats then settled into their typical game plan, scoring six unanswered goals, including two from sophomore Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton), to take an 8-4 lead with just under five minutes remaining. The teams would trade goals for the duration of the half, with sophomore Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) netting a goal with one second remaining to give NU the 10-6 halftime lead.

With both teams slowing the pace in the second half, it appeared Northwestern was about to pull away with just under eight minutes remaining, as a goal from junior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) gave the `Cats a 13-9 lead. But the Nittany Lions were not about to go down without a fight, netting three goals in a one minutes span to cut the NU lead to 13-12 with five minutes remaining. Penn State gained control with a minute remaining and looked to send the game to overtime. But junior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Hackley School) intercepted a centering pass from behind the net and Northwestern survived with the 13-12 victory.

Dowd paced the Wildcats with four goals as Spencer added three of her own. Junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary) continued her steller play, netting a goal and adding three assists, giving her 113 for her career. She now sits 15 assists behind Lindsey Munday on the all-time list. Nielsen and Bowen each extended their points streak to 35 games, while Bowen pushed her goal streak to 31 games.

Lathrop finished with seven saves, including a pair of crucial ones late to preserve the victory, NU's 34th consecutive. Senior defender Christy Finch (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) had a huge game for Northwestern, causing eight turnovers on the afternoon while scooping up four ground balls.

Northwestern returns home for a pair of big home games this week, hosting 17th-ranked Johns Hopkins on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m., in the Chipotle's Big Game. The showdown against the Blue Jays will also be televised live on CSTV. The Wildcats then close out the regular season home schedule against 10th-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, April 20. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.