Denver women’s lacrosse (3-3) traveled to Evanston, Illinois to face the #1 Northwestern Wildcats. Before Friday’s game, Denver had two narrow losses to then, #10 Michigan and #9 Maryland.  The defending national champion Wildcats are loaded with the 2023 Tewaaraton Award winner in Izzy Scane and a host of other dangerous players but DU gave them all they could handle for most of the game. Northwestern scored four of the game’s last six goals in the fourth quarter to pull away, 14-10. However, Denver held the lead in the third quarter and tied Northwestern in the fourth quarter. Ultimately, the Wildcats pulled away in the final eleven minutes to take the game.

Northwestern scored the only two goals in the first quarter as Denver’s Pink Defense held the Wildcats down but failed to score. Northwestern opened the second quarter with a tally but DU responded with their first points at 11:27 when junior Lauren Black found the scoresheet, 3-1. It looked like the Wildcats might pull away when they scored twice in the next three minutes to go up 5-1. Denver responded with five straight goals by five different players over the remained of the second period and the beginning of the third period to go up, 6-5.

Over the balance of the third period, Northwestern outscored Denver 4-2 with a pair of goals scored by DU’s graduate students Jane Earley and Olivia Penoyer, 9-8 NU. DU’s freshman Kyra Obert scored the first goal of the fourth quarter to draw even, 9-9 at 12:20. The Wildcats responded with 5 straight goals to build an insurmountable lead, 14-10. Obert scored Denver’s final goal in the closing minute.

All in all, this was an outstanding effort. Denver forced 19 turnovers while committing 15. Obert had an outstanding game with 3 goals and an assist. Penoyer scored two goals and Julia Gilbert was held to one goal and was heavily defended by the Wildcats. Northwestern’s keeper Laliberty saved 12 of 22 shots (.545) to Emelia Bohi’s 9 saves on 23 shots (.391).

Head coach Liza Kelly has to feel very positive about this road performance against the number one team in the country. Denver has a quick turnaround with a game at Stony Brook on Monday at 10:00 am MT.