Contact: Elliott Carr, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302
 
Box Score

LISLE, Ill. (Mar. 8, 2017) – On the heels of a College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Offensive Player of the Week award, senior Madison Maas contributed a career single-game high six goals on route to leading the North Central College women's lacrosse team to a 20-7 defeat of the Benedictine University Eagles, at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex on Wednesday night in a non-conference matchup.

The early stages of the game was very much a back-and-forth battle, with junior Kara Stevens scoring first for North Central on a free-position shot, with 27:51 on the clock. Freshman Mynk Richardson-Clerk would score the first goal of her career soon after, also capitalizing on a free-position shot, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead with 26:30 left to play.

Benedictine would soon bounce back in the form of two goals of their own, bringing the game to a 2-2 stalemate.

What followed was sure to please head coach Danielle Fiala, as the Cardinals reeled off five goals in succession. Senior Jordyn McFarlane was highly influential in the Cardinals' 5-0 run, assisting on two of the goals, and also adding one herself.

To end the half, North Central was given a boost by freshman Nelle Scranton, as she scored with 12:01 remaining courtesy of a  senior Nikki Merriss assist, then again with 8:42 left in the half, ensuring the Cardinals went into halftime with a 9-5 lead.

Coming out of halftime, North Central were eager to stamp their authority on the game, and it only took freshman Christina Truver eight seconds to do, collecting the draw control then scoring in lightning-quick succession. Senior Kassie Whaling responded shortly after, as she was the recipient of a McFarlane assist with 29:13 left in the game, giving the Cardinals two goals in the opening minute of the half.

The remainder of the half saw the trio of Maas, McFarlane and junior Emily Zadny prosper. Maas would add five goals, while Zadny contributed two. McFarlane continued to make life much easier for her teammates, adding three assists in the sequence.

Senior Anicia Mattingly scored the Cardinals' final goal of the game with 2:42 left in the half.

Maas' six goals were a team high for the Cardinals, while Zadny added four, tying her career single-game high. McFarlane also matched her career single-game high in assists with five, leading the team in that category. Maas led the team in ground balls, collecting six, just one short of her career single-game high. She was supported by Stevens and Richardson-Clerk, who added three apiece. Stevens also dominated the draw control, finishing with five total for the game, with Truver adding four.

Defensively, freshman Rebecca Claussen stood tall with three caused turnovers, while sophomore goalkeeper Camille Seghesio finished with a career single-game high six saves, and senior Kat Schultz added five.

North Central return home to Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium on Saturday, when they look to make it a 4-0 start to the season in a non-conference matchup against Adrian College. Game time is 4:00 P.M., and live stats can be accessed by clicking HERE.