ATLANTA -- In a matchup of two of the top teams in the country, the fifth-ranked Northwestern Lacrosse program left Kennesaw State Stadium with a victory over No. 7 Virginia Saturday afternoon, 6-5.
Fresh off earning her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honor, it was the offense of sophomore Sheila Nesselbush that proved most important against the Cavaliers. Nesselbush scored the Wildcats (2-0) first and last goal of the game, tallying the game winner with three minutes left in regulation on a free-position shot.
With the game even, 5-5, Nesselbush caused a turnover and picked up the ground ball with 4:40 remaining. A yellow card on Virginia's Kelly Reese following the turnover put the `Cats up a player to set up the game-winning position.
In addition to her pair of goals, Nesselbush led the Wildcats with three draw controls and a pair of ground balls.
A year following a career-high 14-save performance against Virginia at Kennesaw State Stadium, senior goalkeeper Bridget Bianco was again huge in the cage with nine saves.
The Wildcats fell behind just nine seconds into the contest as Virginia won the opening draw and Daniela Eppler scored at the 29:51 mark to give the Cavs a 1-0 lead.
The Cavs took a 2-0 lead just two minutes later on a goal by Courtney Swan, but the `Cats came roaring back to take their first lead of the game.
Nesselbush scored her first goal of the season at the 24:11 mark of the first half, carrying the ball the length of the field and drive through the defense to pull the `Cats within a goal, 2-1.
After a save by Bianco on a free-position shot at the 20:49 mark, freshman Selena Lasotatallied her fifth goal of the season to even the game, 2-2. Junior Kaleigh Craig scored just 38 seconds later to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead that would hold until halftime.
A Northwestern possession that included six shots was completed by Craig with her second goal of the day to extend the lead to 4-2. Lasota then recorded her second-straight multi-goal game with her sixth tally of the season just two minutes later, giving NU a 5-2 lead with 23:21 to play.
The Cavaliers chipped away at the lead on back-to-back goals by Reese and Casey Bocklet just three minutes later and Reese capitalized an 8-meter goal with 15:16 remaining to tie the game, 5-5.
UVA continued to keep the pace slow following the tying goal and held possession for nearly five minutes, but Bianco came up with a pair of saves, including one on a free-position shot with 10:32 to play, to keep the game tied.
Bianco's ninth and final save of the game came on a shot by Liza Blue with 2:15 remaining and the `Cats were able to run out the final two minutes to secure the win.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 19 in Northbrook, Ill., when they take on No. 8 Duke at the Accelerated Center. First draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.
