No. 2 Northwestern Pounds No. 18 Penn State, 19-9

Thursday, March 30

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

11-1, 3-0B1G

#18 Penn State

9-3, 2-1B1G

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Penn State	1	6	1	1	9
Northwestern	7	2	6	4	19

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

No. 2 Northwestern Pounds No. 18 Penn State, 19-9

3/30/2023 9:33:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Watch Highlights Photo Gallery

EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 2 Northwestern won its 11th straight game and remained unbeaten in Big Ten play as it downed No. 18 Penn State 19-9 inside Ryan Fieldhouse on Thursday evening. Izzy Scane posted a game-high six goals, while Hailey Rhatigan tallied a season-best five goals. Both Samantha Smith (8) and Samantha White (7) were ultra-impressive in the draw circle as NU held a 23-9 lead in draw controls.

Northwestern (11-1, 3-0 B1G) ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run, and scored four goals over a 1:26 span to hold a 7-1 lead heading into the second period. Scane had a hat trick in just the first quarter alone with Rhatigan also scoring a pair. The Nittany Lions (9-3, 2-1 B1G) scored six goals in the second quarter to trail 9-7 at halftime.

B1G WIN. GO 'CATS ?? pic.twitter.com/3dGFjDPWnD
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) March 31, 2023

In the second half, NU's defense shined as it only allowed Penn State to tally two goals, while the offense poured in 10 goals.

Dylan Amonte (2), Samantha Smith (2) and Madison Taylor (2) also scored multiple goals for Northwestern. Erin Coykendall posted a game-high four assists and added one goal.

Molly Laliberty recorded eight saves in net for Northwestern on 17 shots.

Gretchen Gilmore scored three goals to lead Penn State.

Gallery: (3-31-2023) Lacrosse vs. Penn State

Offensively, the 'Cats eclipsed their season average of 18 goals per game. Northwestern's defense has not allowed fewer than 10 goals in each of the last eight games.

Northwestern will travel to Rutgers for a 6 p.m. CT matchup against the Scarlet Knights on Thursday, April 6. The game will air on BTN.