EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 5 Northwestern earned its third consecutive ranked win on Sunday with a decisive 5-0 victory over No. 25 Maine at Lakeside Field.
Bente Baekers led the scoring for the Wildcats, scoring three goals while adding an assist. It marked the fifth hat trick of Baekers' career and her first since 2019. She now leads all Big Ten players in goals scored (8) and points (22) on the early season. The redshirt junior also continued her climb up the Northwestern record books, becoming just the seventh player in program history to eclipse 50 career goals scored.
Northwestern's defense turned in yet another masterful performance against a ranked foe, holding Maine without a shot over the final three quarters of action.
Lauren Wadas jumpstarted the scoring for Northwestern early in the first quarter, scoring her first goal of the season on a rebound at close range assisted by Baekers.
Heading into the second quarter up 1-0 with a 10-3 advantage in shots, the floodgates soon opened for the Wildcats as Baekers successfully converted on a pair of penalty corner attempts, including a buzzer beater to end the first half, to send the 'Cats into halftime up, 3-0.
Baekers completed her hat trick in the third quarter off an assist from Kayla Blas and Clara Roth. Finally, Liese Wareham extended the Wildcats lead to 5-0 with a rebound in the fourth quarter for her second goal of the week and third on the early season.
Northwestern improves to 6-1 on the season, with each of the Wildcats' six wins coming against Top-25 opponents. With the win, the Wildcats have now won 12-consecutive home games at Lakeside Field, dating back to October, 2019.
The 'Cats head out west next weekend to close out their non-conference slate. NU will take on UC Davis at 7 pm CT before heading to Berkeley, California to face off at California on Sunday at 2 pm CT.
Bente Baekers led the scoring for the Wildcats, scoring three goals while adding an assist. It marked the fifth hat trick of Baekers' career and her first since 2019. She now leads all Big Ten players in goals scored (8) and points (22) on the early season. The redshirt junior also continued her climb up the Northwestern record books, becoming just the seventh player in program history to eclipse 50 career goals scored.
Northwestern's defense turned in yet another masterful performance against a ranked foe, holding Maine without a shot over the final three quarters of action.
Lauren Wadas jumpstarted the scoring for Northwestern early in the first quarter, scoring her first goal of the season on a rebound at close range assisted by Baekers.
Heading into the second quarter up 1-0 with a 10-3 advantage in shots, the floodgates soon opened for the Wildcats as Baekers successfully converted on a pair of penalty corner attempts, including a buzzer beater to end the first half, to send the 'Cats into halftime up, 3-0.
Baekers completed her hat trick in the third quarter off an assist from Kayla Blas and Clara Roth. Finally, Liese Wareham extended the Wildcats lead to 5-0 with a rebound in the fourth quarter for her second goal of the week and third on the early season.
Northwestern improves to 6-1 on the season, with each of the Wildcats' six wins coming against Top-25 opponents. With the win, the Wildcats have now won 12-consecutive home games at Lakeside Field, dating back to October, 2019.
The 'Cats head out west next weekend to close out their non-conference slate. NU will take on UC Davis at 7 pm CT before heading to Berkeley, California to face off at California on Sunday at 2 pm CT.