Despite the heavy rain throughout the day, the No. 6 Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse team (10-4, B1G 4-1) celebrated their seniors on Senior Day and won a thrilling 14-11 match at Martin Stadium against the No. 8 Michigan Wolverines (14-2, B1G 4-2) on Thursday afternoon.
Sporting their gothic jerseys, the women started the game in front of a full crowd. The Wildcats played a back and forth first half with the Wolverines while the teams scored one after the other. Michigan’s Nadine Stewart made the first shot of the game, but Wildcat Jill Girardi scored immediately after unassisted. Izzy Scane and Claire Quinn then made two more goals, and Wolverines Caitlin Muir and Adriana Pendino brought the game to a tie again with 21 minutes left.
For 13 minutes neither team scored, but then Selena Lasota finished the half by scoring two goals while Michigan scored twice as well.
30 minutes in the books of a defensive grind at a wet Martin Stadium.
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 18, 2019
No. 6 #B1GCats 5, No. 8 Michigan 5
Both squads followed up their defensive battle with an intense second half. Lindsey McKone scored the first goal, and Lauren Gilbert followed soon after to bring Northwestern up 7-5.
Michigan’s Muir and Maggie Kane tied the game once again at seven all, but less than a minute later the Wolverines received a yellow card and the ‘Cats took advantage — Gilbert scored her second field goal of the game to bring the team up 8-7. Michigan bounced back by scoring three goals straight before Lasota tossed an iconic back pass assist to Gilbert, leaving the fans on edge as the Wolverines led 10-9.
Selena Lasota, are you kidding me??
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 18, 2019
She makes an outrageous behind the back pass to Lauren Gilbert, who completes her hat trick 🎩🎩🎩
H2 | 11:09 | UM 10, #B1GCats 9 pic.twitter.com/7RCvmg7gok
Following Gilbert’s lead, Scane, Lasota, Megan Kinna and Emily Stein all scored during a five-goal run for the ‘Cats, bringing their lead up to 13-10. The Wolverines struggled to respond as the Wildcats found an unstoppable groove and didn’t score in over seven minutes. However, after Michigan called a timeout, Kane ended Northwestern’s streak and scored the final goal of the game with just two and a half minutes left. It was too little too late, as the 'Cats ran away with the 14-11 victory.
What a senior day!
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 18, 2019
Your No. 6 #B1GCats knock off No. 8 Michigan, 14-11 at Martin Stadium. pic.twitter.com/AzKfBPy7Sp
Northwestern next faces No. 4 Notre Dame in their final ranked regular season matchup in South Bend on April 20 at 6 p.m.