Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Mar. 8, 2025 - Improving to 3-0 in the 2025 season, the North Central College women's lacrosse team scored nine first half goals on their way to a 16-3 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers on Saturday inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
Just 19 seconds into the game, Zoe Palm found the back of the net to put the Cardinals on top, 1-0. Lucy Culig and Annelise Oster added to the North Central lead with goals four minutes into the game, taking a 3-0 advantage. The Pointers responded with a goal of their own as North Central took a 3-1 edge into the second quarter.
After another UW-Stevens Point goal, Abby MacKenzie halted the visitors' run to put the Cardinals ahead by two, 4-2 with 8:46 left in the half. Annelise Oster and Anaise Kaufman scored within a minute of each other to push the North Central advantage to four, 6-2. In the final 1:40 of the second quarter, MacKenzie scored twice with Oster racking on a goal to put the Cardinals on top, 9-2 heading into the locker room.
The Cardinals kept their foot on the gas in the third quarter scoring two goals in the first five minutes while holding the Pointers to without a shot until the final minute when Marissa Van Dyke scored for UW-Stevens Point. North Central held an 11-3 with 15 minutes to play.
MacKenzie kicked off the final quarter with her 14th goal of the season before Palm scored her second of the game within two minutes. Taylor Smith found the back of the net for the first time this season to cap off a 16-3 victory for North Central.
MacKenzie led all players with six goals on the day, followed closely by Oster with four. In goal for the Cardinals, Alyssa Rose picked up the win with three saves for the game. Tori Leonard paced the Cardinal defense with three caused turnovers and five ground balls. MacKenzie won 11 draw controls throughout the game.
Van Dyke scored twice for the Pointers while Emily Griege made 24 saves on the day.
The Cardinals head west to take on Pacific University Monday. The game is set to begin at 6 p.m. (PT) at Hanson Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Boxers 14-4 a season ago.
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