Home sweet home.

The Northwestern lacrosse team (4-7, 1-2 American Lacrosse Conference) came to Lakeside Field twice this weekend and showed Ohio (6-4, 0-3) and Duquesne (3-8) what the phrase “home-field advantage” really means.

The Wildcats had tremendous performances on Friday and Sunday, defeating Ohio 9-8 and Duquesne 10-8.

The Ohio game brought a number of “firsts” for the Cats: first home game with classes in session, first game with a large student turnout, and most importantly, their first-ever American Lacrosse Conference victory.

“I think it was a great win,” NU coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “We finally played together and came out strong.”

The Cats stepped onto the field and announced their presence to the Bobcats with three goals in the first 15 minutes. Courtney Koester was the first to score, followed by Angela McMahon and Kaitie Lenahan.

But the Bobcats were not about to concede an easy defeat. Lindsey Hart connected on two goals, and Kristen Gombeski added another, tying the score at halftime.

“We were ahead early and they made a comeback,” said NU midfielder Donna McCann, who finished with an assist. “But we really stepped it up and came back hard to put it away.”

As soon as the whistle blew for the second half, the Cats asserted themselves once again as Courtney Flynn scored within 40 seconds. Sarah Albrecht scored another goal after some crafty work from twins Courtney and Ashley Koester brought the ball into the Ohio scoring zone.

Hart, who finished the game with five goals for Ohio, and Melissa Menna tried to cut the deficit. Despite another NU goal from McMahon, the four goals between Hart and Menna gave Ohio a 7-6 lead.

Far from defeated, NU spurred forward. The Cats got goals from Jenna Gantner to tie the score, Courtney Koester to pull ahead, and Sarah Albrecht to secure the win.

“It’s awesome to finally put everything we have always practiced together,” Courtney Koester said. “This is the first game where I’ve felt that we played well the entire time.”

Hart scored once more for Ohio, but the game was out of reach, and Cats’ fans affirmed that from the stands.

“When it got really clustered and there was a one-goal deficit, it was really great to hear everyone,” Gantner said.

The game embodied what the Cats have been striving for all season — consistency.

“They came back at us hard, and we executed,” Hiller said. “We got the lead in the end and were able to take care of business and make it happen.

“I think we are going to take the momentum we have from here and bring it to Sunday.”

The players agreed, but they added another small provision to prepare for Duquesne.

“We are eating so much tonight,” Gantner joked. “But we are just going to go out as if it were another game. No matter who we are playing and no matter what their record is, we always go out focusing on what we do and how we are going to play.”

Forty-eight hours later the Cats returned to Lakeside Field to satisfy a different type of hunger by defeating Duquesne 10-8.

The Dukes struck early as Katie Harner scored 11 seconds into the game. The scoring see-sawed as the Cats answered back with two from McMahon and Flynn, but Duquesne responded with back-to-back goals.

McCann came back with a free-position goal, but the Dukes netted another.

At that point, NU took over.

The Cats tallied three goals as Courtney Koester, Flynn and McCann found the net. Duquesne’s Carrie Watkins snuck in one more goal before halftime, but NU still held a 6-5 advantage.

“I think we found our place more and we know that if we come out hard, no one can beat us because we are fast,” Lenahan said.

The Cats broke into the second half with a roar as Albrecht broke through the Dukes defense and scored in the first minute.

The NU fire lasted until the final buzzer, as Courtney Koester, Flynn and McMahon scored to end the game.

Goalie Ashley Gersuk had a strong game, recording nine saves against the Dukes in addition to the 11 she had against Ohio.

“I think we came ready to play,” she said. “The team did really well in front of me and that made it a lot easier (in goal).”

Perhaps the most excited person of all was Hiller, who praised her team for the two wins.

“In both of these games the players showed maturity on the field, and I think that’s what helped us make the step and get the wins,” she said. “They did all the right things.”