Feb. 28, 2010
Northwestern at California Box Score 
2010 Northwestern Lacrosse Statistics
Box Score
BERKELEY, Calif. -- Top-ranked Northwestern used a 12-0 run in the opening half to take control against California, cruising to the 17-3 victory at Memorial Stadium Sunday afternoon. The win is the 32nd-straight for the Wildcats, dating back to the 2008 season, which is now the second-longest winning streak in program history.
Northwestern (3-0) struck first for the third-straight game as junior Brooke Matthews (Baltimore, Md./Friends School) rocketed a shot past the Cal goalkeeper with 25:33 remaining in the opening half. Senior Katrina Dowd (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) converted a wrap-around two minutes later, giving NU the early 2-0 advantage.
California (0-3) would close the gap to 2-1, but senior Danielle Spencer's (Rochester, N.Y./Brighton) goal pushed the lead back to two and ignited the 12-goal Wildcat assault. A free position tally from sophomore Shannon Smith (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon) midway through the half gave the 'Cats the 4-1 lead before Dowd scored her second of the game off a beautiful feed from Smith as Northwestern resumed control.
Goals from freshman Erin Fitzgerald (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) and Smith pushed the lead to 7-1, then freshman Taylor Thornton (Dallas, Texas/Hockaday School) converted on a free position for her first career goal to give the Wildcats the 8-1. Smith and Dowd then each netted a hat trick, with sophomore Jessica Russo (Port Jefferson, N.Y./St. Anthony's) giving NU the 10-goal cushion at 11-1. Smith, Spencer and Russo would find the back of the net to push the NU advantage to 13 before a Golden Bear goal with less than a minute remaining in the half cut the Wildcat lead to 14-2 at the half.
Dowd converted a free position with 38 seconds gone in the second to push the lead back to 13 with Spencer getting her hat trick at the 25:53 mark and extending the NU cushion to 14 at 16-2. Dowd's fifth of the game midway through the half gave the Wildcats the 17-2 edge before cruising to the victory.
Dowd and Spencer continue to move up the Wildcat leaders in goals scored, as Spencer now sits eighth all-time with 143 career goals, one ahead of ninth-place Dowd's 142. Both have their sights set on seventh-place Meredith Franks' 152.
California was aggressive on the draw control, however, outdrawing Northwestern 12-10 on the afternoon despite a career-best five wins for senior Maggie Bremer (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington). However the Wildcats dominated on ground balls with a 27-14 edge on the Golden Bears, while forcing 19 Cal turnovers, three of which were caused by Thornton.
Sophomore goalkeeper Brianne LoManto (Miller Place, Rocky Point) was solid in net for Northwestern, stopping six Golden Bear shots while allowing just two goals in just over 41 minutes of work. Junior Darby St. Clair-Barrie (Scituate, Mass./Brooks School) also notched a save in the victory.
Northwestern now prepares for its first home game of the 2010 season, hosting seventh-ranked Georgetown at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 6. The Wildcats will be looking to build on their NCAA-record 54-game home winning streak.