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

Mar. 6, 2024 - Stringing together seven unanswered goals after a back-and-forth first half, the North Central College women's lacrosse team secured its first win of the 2024 campaign Wednesday with a 13-9 victory over Adrian College (Michigan) at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

The visiting Bulldogs (2-2) opened the first meeting between the two teams since 2018 with a goal by Lucia Commare after just under two minutes of play. North Central leveled the score on Abby MacKenzie's goal with 11:26 on the clock, and added scores from Julia Clarke and Ellie Gosselin tot ake a 3-1 lead with 6:15 left in the first period.

Adrian countered with a three-goal rush of its own to pull back in front, 4-3, before Annelise Oster tied the score with 10 seconds left in the initial quarter. MacKenzie scored again early in the second period to nudge the hosts ahead once again, though the Bulldogs kept the hosts out of the net for the next nine minutes and scored three more times to lead, 7-5, before Reese McMullen halved the deficit with the final goal of the period.

Lucy Culig drew a free-position attempt early in the third quarter and made it count, leveling the score at 7-7 with 11:40 on the clock. MacKenzie gave the Cardinals the lead once again just more than three minutes later, firing an initial shot at Adrian goalkeeper Megan Steffey which was saved before picking the ball back up and finding the net. Culig scored in the same fashion with 5:42 left in the period to double the Cardinals' advantage to 9-7, and Oster added a free-position goal before assisting MacKenzie on the final goal of the quarter after a free-position save by Cassidy Anderson.

Oster scored again after a ground-ball pickup early in the fourth period before assisting McMullen on North Central's final goal with 10:52 to play.

MacKenzie was the game's top scorer with four goals and added a team-best six draw controls while sharing the Cardinals' lead in ground balls (4) with Oster and Rachel Lawrence. Oster finished with three goals and Culig added two as the pair each finished with two assists. McMullen and Tori Leonard each caused three turnovers while Anderson saved 13 shots on goal.

North Central (1-1) travels to Madison, Wisconsin Saturday to face Edgewood College. Play at Edgewood College Field at Reddan Park is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. Click HERE for the full 2024 schedule and live coverage options.

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