Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

FOREST GROVE, Ore. (Mar. 20, 2009) - The first-ever away game for the North Central College women's lacrosse program came in an unlikely location on Friday, as the Cardinals took the field for the first of three games in the Pacific Northwest at Pacific University.

Five North Central players found the back of the net against the Boxers, though the hosts defended their turf with a 20-5 victory.

Pacific (3-1) scored the first two goals of the contest before Andrea Hehn got the Cardinals on the board with 25:31 on the clock, scoring her first goal off an assist from Amy Frazzini. North Central tacked on one more goal before halftime, as Kim Justice took advantage of a free-position attempt to lash the ball past Boxer goalkeeper Heidi Curry with 7:12 left before the break.

Natalie Vivacqua used another free position to score the Cardinals' next goal once the second half got under way, finding the net with 16:13 remaining. Frazzini was the next player to score, turning in her third goal of the season with 10:42 to play.

North Central (0-2) scored a third free-position goal with 5:06 to go, as Shannon Prince scored her first goal of the year after drawing a foul.

Elise Manzie recorded nine saves in goal for the Cardinals, while Amber Cibrario picked up four ground balls and Vivacqua totaled three draw controls.

North Central travels to Tacoma, Wash., on Sunday to take on the University of Puget Sound. The game is scheduled to begin at noon Pacific time.