MINNEAPOLIS – After opening Midwest Lacrosse Conference play with a loss at Saint Benedict on Saturday, the University of Northwestern Women's Lacrosse team was eager to get in the win column in conference play. The Eagles did not have to wait long, as they raced out to an 11-0 lead and finished the job, winning 13-5 at Augsburg University on Wednesday night.
Abby Scheel (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area), who entered the game tied for third in the MLC in assists, decided to get some shine herself as she scored the game's first goal just 1:42 in. Just over a minute later,
Lily Crosby (Cavalier, N.D./Cavalier Public School) found
Maddie Hauer (Wausau, Wis./Wausau West) to make it 2-0 UNW. By the time the first quarter ended, Hauer had earned herself a hat trick as she added two more goals, one assisted by
Cara Smith (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) and one unassisted with 1:40 remaining in the quarter. At the end of one, Northwestern led 4-0.
UNW kept its foot on the gas as the second quarter began.
Emma Snyder (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) got on the board just under three minutes in before giving way to the
Ainsley Thompson (Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) show. The senior, who had a similar stretch in the third quarter of Saturday's game, put up a hat trick in the second quarter alone on Wednesday, matching Hauer's feat from the opening period. She scored with 10:56, 9:13 and 8:12 on the clock, doing so in quick order. The latter two were free position shots and gave Northwestern a commanding 8-0 advantage at the half.
The offensive avalanche continued for Northwestern as the second half began. Snyder scored her second goal of the night before Thompson connected on another free position attempt, giving her four goals in three quarters. Smith found the back of the cage with 18 seconds remaining to make it 11-0 in favor of the road team with one period to go.
After Northwestern made a change at goalkeeper to begin the fourth quarter, the Auggies found some life. Three straight Augsburg goals cut the deficit to 11-3, but Scheel scored off an assist from
Emma Ruegemer (Cold Spring, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) with 6:42 left to push the lead back to nine. Augsburg scored twice more to get within seven, but Smith found Ruegemer for the game's final goal with 2:51 left to seal the 13-5 win for UNW. The Eagles improved to 5-6 overall and drew even at 1-1 in conference play with the win.
Northwestern was not short on offense in Wednesday's win, led by Thompson's four goals and Hauer's three. The latter also added six draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Snyder and Scheel each logged two goals and three ground balls, with the former causing two turnovers and winning two draw controls as well. Smith scored once and assisted twice, in addition to collecting four ground balls and causing a pair of turnovers. Ruegemer tallied one goal, one assist and six ground balls.
Reegan Duininck (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) was, per usual, a menace on the defensive end, causing a game-high five turnovers and tying Ruegemer's game-high of six ground balls.
Daisy Koffler (Pine City, Minn./Pine City) was lights out in cage, making six saves in six opportunities. All five Augsburg goals were scored once Koffler moved from goalkeeper to defender in the fourth quarter.
Northwestern will return home to Reynolds Field Saturday, April 13
th for a conference showdown with Cornell College. The Eagles and Rams are currently tied for third in the MLC standings with matching 1-1 records in conference play. The draw is scheduled for 1:00 PM on what looks to be a gorgeous day in St. Paul.
