EVANSTON, Ill – Sporting bright pink socks and numbers in its annual pink game, Northwestern secured a dominant 5-0 win over Kent State on Sunday morning at Lakeside Field.
Redshirt first-year Bente Baekers led the team with three goals and moved to 22 goals on the season, which currently leads the nation. She now sits in fifth in Northwestern history for goals in a single season.
The Wildcats grabbed an early first quarter lead on first-year Alia Marshall's first-career goal, with Lakin Barry earning the assist.
Marshall's goal sparked an offensive explosion for Northwestern. Coming off her fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor, Baekers stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second quarter. With two additional goals in the second half, Baekers secured her third hat trick of the season.
Northwestern went up 3-0 just before the half on a goal from junior Mackenzie Keegan. First-year midfielder Peryton Halsey picked up an assist as she struck a shot from the edge of the circle, which Keegan guided it into the back of the net from the goal line.
Kent State struggled to generate chances throughout the game against a suffocating Northwestern defense, with the 'Cats holding the Golden Flashes without a shot through the first 55 minutes. Sunday marked Northwestern's fifth shutout of the season.
The Wildcats get back into Big Ten play next Saturday in their penultimate regular season game, traveling to Iowa City for a showdown at Iowa beginning at noon CT.
Redshirt first-year Bente Baekers led the team with three goals and moved to 22 goals on the season, which currently leads the nation. She now sits in fifth in Northwestern history for goals in a single season.
The Wildcats grabbed an early first quarter lead on first-year Alia Marshall's first-career goal, with Lakin Barry earning the assist.
Marshall's goal sparked an offensive explosion for Northwestern. Coming off her fifth Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor, Baekers stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second quarter. With two additional goals in the second half, Baekers secured her third hat trick of the season.
Northwestern went up 3-0 just before the half on a goal from junior Mackenzie Keegan. First-year midfielder Peryton Halsey picked up an assist as she struck a shot from the edge of the circle, which Keegan guided it into the back of the net from the goal line.
Kent State struggled to generate chances throughout the game against a suffocating Northwestern defense, with the 'Cats holding the Golden Flashes without a shot through the first 55 minutes. Sunday marked Northwestern's fifth shutout of the season.
The Wildcats get back into Big Ten play next Saturday in their penultimate regular season game, traveling to Iowa City for a showdown at Iowa beginning at noon CT.