Orange's Winning Streak Snapped at Northwestern

Sunday, March 22

Evanston, IL

1 pm

Syracuse University

8-3

Northwestern

5-2

Syracuse

Northwestern

Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski

3/22/2015 4:23:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern goalkeeper Bridget Bianco made a save with 1:19 remaining on a shot by junior Kelly Cross to secure No. 7/6 Northwestern's 11-10 victory against No. 5/5 Syracuse on Saturday, Mar. 22. The loss snaps the Orange's three-game winning streak.

Syracuse (8-3) trailed, 8-6, at halftime but junior Erica Bodt recorded her second free position goal of the game to cut the lead to one 2:27 into the second half. The teams traded goals before Kara Mupo scored her fifth goal of the day to give Northwestern (5-2) a 10-8 lead at the 14:51 mark. Orange goalkeeper Kelsey Richardson stopped Mupo's first shot, but the rebound went right back to Mupo, who pushed the ball into the back of the net.

Cross again put the Orange within one with a free position goal, but Northwestern answered on Selena Lasota's unassisted goal at the 11:35 mark. A failed clear by the Wildcats led to Cross' third goal on an assist from junior Halle Majorana to again cut the deficit to one at 11-10 with 9:50 remaining. Bianco made one of her 10 saves on a free position attempt by freshman Riley Donahue at the 4:45 mark to preserve Northwestern's one-goal advantage and give the Wildcats the ball.

Northwestern tried to run the clock out, but sophomore Kaeli O'Connor caused a turnover and Richardson picked up the ground ball to give the Orange an opportunity to even the score. Syracuse successfully cleared the ball and had a chance for the tie on Cross' shot from the left side, but Bianco made the save and Northwestern was able to maintain possession for the remainder of the contest for the victory.

"It's a tough game," said Syracuse head coach Gary Gait. "We came up just short again. We couldn't quite get back to a tied situation. We couldn't make the stop and get it to the next level. We had opportunities but we didn't finish our shots."

Cross and Donahue each scored to give Syracuse an early 2-1 lead. With the score tied, 3-3, Northwestern recorded three straight goals to take the largest lead of the game at 6-3 with 15:28 on the clock. The Orange halted the scoring run when senior Gabby Jaquith picked up a loose ball and passed the ball to Majorana, who scored on an empty net. The Orange cut the deficit to one when Bodt caused a turnover and then scored on an assist from Majorana.

Northwestern again went up by two on Mupo's goal, but Majorana tallied a wraparound goal as Syracuse trailed 7-6 at the 5:25 mark. Lupo scored her fourth goal of the half at the 1:55 mark and Bianco made a save with four seconds remaining as the Wildcats led 8-6 halftime.

Cross and Majorana each finished with three goals. Majorana also added two assists for a team-high five points.

Both teams recorded 23 shots on goal, while Syracuse picked up 18 ground balls to 17 for the Wildcats. Northwestern held a slight 12-11 advantage in the draw circle. Richardson finished with seven saves.

The Orange returns to ACC play next weekend when it travels to Durham, N.C. to take on No. 4/2 Duke on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m.