EVANSTON, Ill. – Led by a balanced attack and staunch defense, the No. 1 Maryland women's lacrosse team (10-0, 1-0 B1G) picked up a dominant 16-5 win over No. 4 Northwestern (5-3, 0-1) Thursday night in the inaugural Big Ten lacrosse game.
Six Terrapins scored multiple goals, led by five from freshman Megan Whittle. Kelly McPartland recorded a hat trick, and Brooke Griffin, Zoe Stukenberg, Taylor Cummings and Kristen Lamon each scored twice.
Goalkeeper Alex Fitzpatrick made seven saves and picked up a ground ball. The Terrapin defense held the Wildcats to five goals, more than five less than their season average.
Cummings started the first-ever Big Ten lacrosse game with a bang as she won the opening draw and scored within the first 13 seconds. Northwestern was able to set a pick and Selena Lasota tied the game for the Wildcats at 27:04.
Stukenberg nailed in an 8-meter opportunity at 22:43, and Whittle scored off a pass from Stukenberg at 17:35 as the Terps led, 3-1. The Wildcats tallied a goal at 13:27 to cut the lead.
The Terps broke out for six goals in six minutes to close the half. Whittle scored off a well-timed pass from McPartland at 6:57. Cummings won the next draw and got the ball to Griffin, who was able to find the net at 6:47. Griffin scored again at 5:59 with a great backhanded shot. Stukenberg found the goal at 5:15, and Lamon circled around the crease and scored at 3:51. Whittle closed the half with a free-position goal at :58.
Northwestern attempted to take the momentum back in the second half after the Wildcats appeared to score at 27:50, but the goal was taken away for an illegal stick. The Terps used the turnover to their advantage as Whittle picked up her fourth goal at 27:40.
Lamon scored her second of the game as she brought down a high pass from Cummings and shot at 26:43. McPartland added a goal at 26:14 as she spun around a defender and scored.
Lasota was able to break the 9-0 Terrapin run at 19:51. Maryland answered after McPartland spun around a defender and scored to give the Terps a 13-3 lead. Cummings scored immediately after the next draw at 16:13. After another Wildcat goal at 14:28, Whittle tallied her fifth goal of the game on a laser shot with just over 12 minutes remaining. McPartland scored again with a shot under a defender at 10:57.
Northwestern was able to get a goal at 2:30 to close the scoring for the game, but the Terrapins took the 16-5 win.
Cummings picked up a career-high 13 draw controls as Maryland held an 18-5 advantage in the circle. The Terps also had an 8-6 ground ball advantage and 28-17 lead in shots.
The Terps are back in action at Georgetown on Wednesday, April 1. Opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m.
-Maryland-
