Feb. 21, 2012
American Lacrosse Conference Website
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Following Northwestern's second straight stellar defensive effort to open the season, junior Taylor Thornton (Dallas, Texas/Hockaday School) was spotlighted as the Defensive Player of the Week in the American Lacrosse Conference, the league announced Tuesday. NU topped fifth-ranked Duke, 13-5, to complete back-to-back wins over top-10 opponents.
Thornton contributed four ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers to the Northwestern cause against the Blue Devils, who committed a total of 15 turnovers against the Wildcats' defensive pressure. Thornton and Northwestern worked to limit Emma Hamm, a 2011 Tewaaraton Trophy finalist and Duke's leading goal-scorer last season, to just one assist in the game.
Thornton's performance against Duke came on the heels of her showing at No. 6 Stanford, where last year's IWLCA National Defender of the Year notched two goals, five draw controls and three caused turnovers.
Northwestern returns to the field on Wednesday, Feb. 29, when it takes on No. 12 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
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