Women's Lacrosse Takes on No. 5 Northwestern Sunday
May 10, 2014 | Women's Lacrosse
May 10, 2014
EVANSTON, Ill. - The University of Louisville women's lacrosse team continues to venture into unchartered territory. After claiming its first NCAA Tournament victory in program history Friday, Louisville faces No. 5-seed Northwestern in the Sweet 16 on Sunday at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill.
The contest starts at 2 p.m. ET and will be streamed free of charge on the Big Ten Digital Network's site. It also will be televised on the Big Ten Network on tape delay, starting approximately 3 p.m. ET.
| Online Video | | @LouisvilleLax Twitter | UofL Game Notes |
Louisville and Northwestern met one time previously, with the Wildcats posting a 16-7 win in 2012. Jamie Redding had two goals and two assists in the loss, and Cat Gordon and Monica Negron each recorded four draw controls. Ashley Herbst played 24 minutes in the cage, making two saves and allowing four scores.
This season's matchup features two of the best players in the circle. Louisville's Kaylin Morissette ranks second nationally with 8.78 draw controls per game (166 on the year), while Northwestern's Alyssa Leonard is third in the category with 8.00 per contest (144 on the year). Both were named Tewaaraton Award nominees and are first team all-conference selections.
The No. 16 Cardinals (16-3) advanced past No. 10 Ohio State the NCAA first round in exhilarating fashion, logging their 12th-straight victory and improving an already school-record win total to 16.
Nikki Boltja scored a game-high four goals in the victory, including the game-winner on a free-position shot in the second overtime period. She also scored the game-tying goal in regulation with 5:54 remaining to force the overtime session. The senior had three assists and one ground ball.
Faye Brust and Cortnee Daley each tallied two scores, and Morissette won eight draw controls. Daley's second goal gave the Cardinals a 10-9 advantage in the first overtime period.
Herbst earned the save after playing nearly 22 minutes in the cage, allowing just two goals and recording one save. Daley and Laura Patterson totaled four ground balls each.
On the year, Boltja is pacing the offense with 71 goals and 27 assists for 98 points. Brust's 69 goals are second most on the team, while Redding ranks second with 25 assists.
Defensively, Daley has team highs of 20 caused turnovers and 36 ground balls. The Cardinals have received stellar play in the cage from both Herbst and Ashley Peacock. Over the last six games, the duo is combining for a 6.86 goals-against average and a .425 save percentage.
Fifth-ranked Northwestern (12-6, 3-3) last played at home on May 4 and had its three-game winning streak snapped in the ALC title game, falling to Florida. The Wildcats led 7-2 at the half, but the Gators outscored Northwestern 7-1 in the second, with the game-winner with 32 seconds remaining for the 9-8 victory.
Kara Mupo posted three goals in the loss, and Leonard totaled eight draw controls.
Leonard is the Wildcats' offensive catalyst, leading the program in goals (35) and points (45), while shooting an efficient 53.8 percent. Mupo has 33 goals this season, and Kat DeRonda has added 32.
Haydyn Anigian is pacing the back line with 15 caused turnovers, and Bridget Bianco has played the majority of the time in the cage, boasting a 8.00 goals-against average with a .462 save percentage.
For the latest information on Louisville women's lacrosse, log on to GoCards.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/LouisvilleLax or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UofLLacrosse.
