As a pregame drizzle compounded into a steady stream of rain and snow atop Kittredge Field Thursday, No. 4 Northwestern’s high-octane attack blasted beyond Boulder’s battalion, toppling No. 20 Colorado from their undefeated ranks.
With the snow-capped Rocky Mountains overlooking the turf, the sport’s most established stars soared more than a mile above sea level. Despite falling behind early, the Wildcats (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) comprehensively commanded the contest and quashed the Buffaloes (3-1, 0-0 PAC-12) 19-14.
Forming a frenetically paced, three-pronged scoring punch, graduate student attackers Izzy Scane and Dylan Amonte and sophomore attacker Madison Taylor combined to outscore the hosts. Graduate student attacker Erin Coykendall’s distributive dominance yielded a game-high four assists.
Scane put NU on the board during the game’s third minute, responding to her former teammate and Colorado attacker Eve Hritzuk’s opener, which found the back of the net just 12 seconds before Scane’s finish.
The ‘Cats and the Buffaloes traded punches throughout the first period, as Colorado midfielder Maddie Shoup’s hat-trick goal in the final seconds knotted the teams at six-apiece after 15 minutes. Shoup’s score marked the first of four Buffaloes’ scores within the final minute of a quarter.
Although Colorado midfielder Ashley Stokes struck first in the second quarter, Taylor ruled the frame. Lining up at the eight-meter on three separate occasions, Taylor found twine on all three free-position chances and nabbed an assist to help NU take an 11-9 advantage into halftime.
Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller handed junior goalkeeper Cara Nugent her second consecutive start Thursday, but she subbed in graduate student goalkeeper Molly Laliberty after the intermission. Amonte Hiller said she didn’t think there were any injury concerns with Laliberty during Monday’s post game availability, and the move all but confirmed her starter’s health.
Just one minute and five seconds into the third quarter, Taylor tallied her fourth free-position goal of the day. After the Buffaloes answered, Amonte, Scane and Taylor rattled off four consecutive conversions to extend the visitors’ lead to six goals.
Stokes and graduate student midfielder Lindsey Frank traded a pair of goals for their respective sides as the clock wound down, before Hritzuk hurled a final finish beyond Laliberty to cut the deficit to 17-12 entering the final frame.
Following nearly 10 minutes of scoreless play, junior midfielder Emerson Bohlig blazed beyond her Colorado counterparts and converted her second goal of the season. Just 27 seconds later, Taylor nabbed her career-high sixth goal on her sixth free-position shot of the day.
While the Buffaloes brought the game back within five goals with Colorado midfielder Madeline Pisani and Hritzuk’s consecutive tallies, the ‘Cats comfortably held on to clinch their second consecutive victory.
NU’s draw team shone again Thursday, as junior midfielder Samantha Smith’s eight draw controls spearheaded a 25-12 circle advantage. The ‘Cats outshot the Buffaloes 43-28, but Amonte Hiller will likely look to address her squad’s season-high 23 turnovers.
The Lake Show will have a week of preparation before its greatest test thus far — a national title rematch with No. 1 Boston College Feb. 29. The new-look Eagles (4-0, 0-0 ACC) have coasted through their early season slate, recording 75 goals and conceding just 21 in their first four games.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @jakeepste1n
Related Stories:
— Lacrosse: No. 4 Northwestern dismantles Marquette 21-3
— Lacrosse: No. 4 Northwestern’s Samantha Smith shores up draw against Marquette
