EVANSTON, Ill. -- Freshman Selena Lasota scored three goals and dished out an assist, but fourth-ranked Northwestern was unable to keep up with top-ranked Maryland in the Big Ten opener Thursday night, falling at Lakeside Field, 16-5.
The Wildcats fall to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, while the Terrapins improve to 10-0 and 1-0 in conference play.
The Terps didn't waste any time to open the scoring as junior Taylor Cummings won the opening draw and took it all the way to the crease, scoring just 13 seconds in the game to put the 'Cats in a 1-0 hole. Lasota came off a pick from classmate Shelby Fredericks in the third minute and fired home her first goal of the game to tie it, 1-1.
Goals by Zoe Stuckenberg at 22:43 and Megan Whittle at 17:35 put the Terps back in front, 3-1, but with all the attention on Lasota atthe top of the fan, the freshman was able to find sophomore Sheila Nesselbush at the 13:26 mark to pull NU within one, 3-2.
The two teams split in the draw circle through the first 17 minutes, 3-3, but it was then that Maryland, and Cummings inparticular took over. After a goal by Whittle extended the Terps' lead to 4-2, Cummings won the next five draws and the Terps scored five more goals to take a 9-2 lead into the break.
After a save by senior Bridget Bianco on a free-position shot by Kelly McPartland opened the second half, the 'Cats appeared to break the run when Lasota found Fredericks in front of the cage. Unfortunately, the goal was disallowed for an illegal stick call and Whittle scored just 38 seconds later to push the lead to 10-2.
Kristen Lamon scored 57 seconds later for Maryland and then McPartland scored an unassisted goal 29 seconds after that to cap the 9-0 run and put the Wildcats in a 10-goal deficit, 12-2.
Lasota ended the run with her second goal of the game with 19:51 to play, extended her streak of multi-goal games to eight at the start of her career. The freshman tallied her third goal on an 8-meter opportunity after a pair of Maryland goals to keep the deficit at 10, 14-4.
Whittle scored her fifth goal of the day and McPartland again found the back of the cage with 10:57 to play, before senior Kara Mupo closed the scoring with her 12th goal of the season with just 2:30 to play.
The Wildcats lost the draw battle 18-5 in the end, losing 10-of-11 draws in the second half. Cummings finished with a game-high 13 draw controls.
Freshmen Shannon Nesselbush and Lindsay Darrel led the Wildcats with two draws apiece, while Nesselbush led NU with three ground balls.
Chicago's Big Ten Team will have a quick turnaround as they look to bounce back on Sunday when they host No. 10 Louisville. Opening draw is scheduled for noon and the game will air on the Big Ten Network. Big Ten play will continue next Thursday when the 'Cats travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on Michigan on BTN.
