ST. PAUL, Minn. – University of Northwestern Women's Lacrosse hosted College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday night for their fourth conference contest of the season. The Eagles and Bennies battled back and forth in the opening half with neither team leading by more than one goal, but CSB surged ahead in the second half as UNW fell 8-4.
The Eagles struck first as
Cara Smith (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) scored in the fourth minute of the game with
Emma Ruegemer (Cold Spring, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) assisting. The Bennies answered six minutes later with a goal to tie the game up at 1-1.
Samantha Wiebold (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) regained the lead for UNW just two minutes later with an unassisted goal.
Northwestern led 2-1 at the end of the opening quarter, but Saint Benedict went on to score twice in the second frame to take a 3-2 lead by halftime.
The Bennies scored twice more to start the third period to go up 5-2.
Ava Whitcomb (Otsego, Minn./Rogers) then capitalized on a player-up opportunity to score and cut the CSB lead down to two. The Eagles nearly scored in the closing seconds of the third frame, but the goal was called off as the shot clock had run out just one second prior to the shot being taken.
Saint Benedict scored three times in the fourth quarter to go up 8-3.
Lauren Paar (Centerville, Minn./Centennial) scored one more goal for the Eagles with 2:14 remaining, but the Bennies defense held strong to take the game to an 8-4 final.
Chloe Solorzano (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) led the defensive effort for UNW with six caused turnovers.
Lauren Paar (Centerville, Minn./Centennial) recorded a team-high seven ground balls. In goal,
Daisy Koffler (Pine City, Minn./Pine City) had 12 saves for the Eagles.
Up next, Northwestern will travel to Wartburg College on Saturday, April 22 for a 1:00 p.m. conference battle.
