NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Whitworth University saved the best for last as the visiting Pirates outscored North Central College 4-0 in the fourth quarter of a 12-8 non-conference women's lacrosse win on Sunday.
Whitworth won both games on its spring break trip to Chicago to even its 2025 record at 3-3. The Cardinals (5-2) suffered only their second loss of the season.
The game was very closely played through the first three quarters, with neither team leading by more than two goals until the Pirate defense took over in the final period.
Whitworth did not score through the match's first ten minutes as NCC jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Pirates finally got on the board on a goal by Sierra Witte with 4:24 left. Two minutes later Kennison Turner tied the contest. Annelise Oster gave the hosts a 3-2 lead with a goal in the final seconds of the first period.
Cambell Vincent scored her first goal of the contest early in the second and Megan Whitman tallied a goal soon after to give the Bucs their first lead of the game (4-3) early in the second period. But Whitworth hit another scoreless stretch and the Cardinals were able to tie the match 4-4 after Abby MacKenzie scored with ten minutes left in the period. Neither team scored the rest of the second quarter as the defenses took over. Sage Fosnock made both of their saves in the second quarter and came up with a couple of turnovers.
The teams traded four goals each in the third as both offenses found their groove. Vincent scored two in a row to give the Pirates an 8-6 lead late in the period, but NCC was able to tally a pair of goals in the final minute to tie the contest 8-8 heading to the fourth quarter.
Kenzie Hemman drove through three defenders for Whitworth's first goal of the fourth quarter. After the Bucs won the draw control, Witte scored only 20 seconds later forcing a timeout from the Cardinals. Peyton Green scored with ten minutes to go and Whitman put the game away for the Pirates with the final goal with 4:27 left.
Kayla Jones played the final 30 minutes in goal for Whitworth and made four saves. The Bucs forced the Cardinals into nine fourth quarter turnovers and NCC was only able to take one shot in the final period.
Vincent led the Pirates with four goals, while Witte had two goals and one assist. Whitman also scored two goals to go along with five draw controls, three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Hemman had five ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls along with her goal.
MacKenzie scored three goals and Oster had two for NCC.
Whitworth outshot North Central 35-18. The teams split draw controls with 12 apiece, but the Pirates did a better job taking care of the ball, committing only 14 turnovers while forcing 27 turnovers from the Cardinals.
Whitworth will return to action on April 5th and 6th when the Pirates open Northwest Conference play at home against George Fox and Pacific.
