Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
FOREST GROVE, Ore. (Mar. 10, 2025) - Scoring the first 10 goals of the game, the North Central College women's lacrosse team cruised past Pacific University 14-4 in the Cardinals' first game on the West Coast Monday night at Hanson Stadium. This win marks North Central's best start since the 2020 season as they improve to 4-0.
Within 45 seconds of the opening whistle, Abby MacKenzie won the draw control and scored to give the Cardinals a 1-0 edge. Shortly after a save from North Central goalie Alyssa Rose, Zoe Palm found the back of the net. With less than two minutes to play in the first quarter, Samantha Devens found Annelise Oster for the goal to put the Cardinals ahead, 3-0 after 15 minutes of play.
Oster scored her second straight goal to begin the second quarter before MacKenzie tallied her second of the game to push the North Central advantage to five. Rachel Lawrence recorded her first assist of the night, finding Devens who extended the lead to 6-0. Another save from Rose turned into offense for North Central as Lucy Culig added a goal to the scoreboard with her first goal of the contest. Following another goal from Devens, Oster scored a free position goal as the Cardinals took advantage of the Boxer foul. Extending the lead to double digits, MacKenzie found the back of the net as North Central held a 10-0 advantage at the break.
Pacific broke the shutout early in the third quarter with their first goal of the game before MacKenzie scored a free-position goal to give the Cardinals their 10-point lead back. The teams traded goals as Anna Williamson scored at the 10-minute mark off of an assist by Ellie Gosselin. The Boxers responded with three goals of their own before Anaise Kaufman scored with seven seconds left in the quarter as North Central took a 13-4 lead into the final 15 minutes of play.
Culig scored the lone goal of the fourth quarter with 9:09 to play as Oran Wilkins kept Pacific scoreless in the final period to secure the 14-4 victory for North Central.
MacKenzie led all players with four goals while Oster tallied three goals with an assist. Taylor Smith secured four ground balls and recorded four caused turnovers. Rose and Wilkins split the game in goal as Rose posted two saves with zero goals allowed with Wilkins allowing four and recording one save.
The Cardinals conclude their trip out west with the first-ever matchup against Lewis & Clark College on Wed., Mar. 12. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m. (PT) at Griswold Stadium in Portland, Ore.
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