April 9, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After a handful of close games, top-ranked Northwestern decided it had had enough, as junior Hilary Bowen (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) netted five goals and added an assist - all in the first half - and sophomore Danielle Spencer (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) added four goals and a pair of assists as well as the Wildcats rout eighth-ranked Notre Dame 16-2 at Lakeside Field. NU improves to 12-0 on the season, and extends its winning streak to 33 games and home winning streak to 37.
After a slow pace to start the contest, junior Hannah Nielsen (Adelaide, Australia/Brighton Secondary), junior Meredith Frank (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and Bowen tallied three goals in a two-minute span, and the floodgates were opened. NU outscored the Irish (9-4) 11-0 in the first half, led by Bowen's five goals and a pair from Nielsen. It marked the second time this season Northwestern had shut out an opponent through the first 30 minutes, as it led Hofstra 14-0 at the half on Feb. 26.
Defensively, the Wildcats were equally as solid. Junior goalkeeper Morgan Lathrop (Briarcliff, N.Y./The Hackley School) continued her impressive play as of late, recording five of her nine saves in the first half. Senior defender Christy Finch (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) and the rest of the Wildcat defense also kept Notre Dame frustrated and off the scoreboard.
The second half was more of the same, as NU tallied the first four goals to take a 15-0 lead with 20:26 remaining, led by a pair of goals from Spencer. The Irish would finally get on the board with just under 18 minutes remaining, but it was too little too late as the 'Cats dominated until the final horn.
Nielsen finished two goals and two assists, as her second goal of the first half was the 200th point of her Wildcat career, gaining her access to an exclusive club. She now has 90 goals and 110 assists, and becomes just the seventh player all-time to tally 200 points in a Northwestern uniform. Nielsen moves past Sarah Albrecht into seventh on the all-time point list. She also extended her streak to 34 consecutive games with at least one point.
Bowen also continued a pair of streaks, as she has now registered at least one goal in 30 consecutive games, and has also tallied at least one point in 34 straight contests.
At the other end of the field, Finch, Lathrop and the rest of the Wildcat defensive continued to shut down the best players in the nation, as it held Notre Dame's 52-goal scorer Jillian Byers to just one shot on the evening. Finch, the nation's leader in caused turnovers at 3.09, had four, while Lathrop improved her goals against average to 5.88 - also tops in the nation.
Northwestern now get set for a trip to University Park, Pa., to face American Lacrosse Conference opponent Penn State (3-9) Sunday, April 13. The Wildcats are 6-4 all-time against the Nittany Lions, including a pair of wins last season. Opening draw is set for 11 a.m.
