Northwestern is off to its first 5-0 start since 2012, the last time the Wildcats won a national championship — and this team is looking like a title favorite.

In a much closer game than Thursday night’s 24-14 win over Penn State, the No. 4 Wildcats outlasted the No. 8 Nittany Lions 17-13 Saturday afternoon in Evanston. Lauren Gilbert scored six goals, going five-for-five from the eight-meter arc.

Lindsay McKone scored four times, while Sammy Mueller, Izzy Scane and Leah Holmes each scored twice.

The Wildcats led 9-5 at halftime and led 12-5 won Gilbert scored with 25:17 left to play. The Big Ten foes traded goals for a few minutes until Penn State (2-2) went on a run that nearly changed the complexion of the game.

Kara Nealon recorded assists on four straight possessions, feeding Mary Muldoon, Gretchen Gilmore, Kristin O’Neill and then Muldoon again, cutting the Northwestern lead to 14-11 with 13:42 remaining.

Muldoon with her 3rd goal of the game! Nittany Lions trail 14-11. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/rXGMfYkAwd

— Penn State Women’s Lacrosse (@PennStateWLAX) March 13, 2021

Northwestern put a stop to the run, though, scoring three straight and holding Penn State scoreless until there was just 57 seconds to play.

Parrella’s 10 Goals Carry Hofstra

After scoring just once in an unexpected loss to Albany, Alyssa Parrella bounced back in a big way with a career-high 10 goals in a 12-9 win over Villanova in Hempstead. She scored each of Hofstra’s five second-half goals.

Villanova (2-4) scored the first four goals of the game, but No. 19 Hofstra (3-1) then scored seven straight — five by Parrella, and one each by Grace Langella and Alexa Mattera.

Villanova later tied the score at 9 when Kayla Gulmi assisted Haley Driscoll with 9:53 left to play, but Parrella scored the final three goals of the contest.

UMass Gets Revenge on UConn

Six days ago, UMass was ranked 16^th nationally before running into a UConn team on a hot streak. Led by Sydney Watson, the Huskins upended the Minutewomen in overtime. On Saturday, UMass flipped the script.

UMass (3-2) scored the final two goals in regulation to force the extra frame, and then Olivia Muscella scored her second goal of the contest with just two seconds left in OT for a 15-14 win.

North Carolina on Another Level

Top-ranked North Carolina is simply untouchable right now, and the Tar Heels proved so again Saturday afternoon. Jamie Ortega scored five goals, Katie Hoeg and Scottie Rose Growney scored three each and Caitlyn Wurzburger, Elizabeth Hillman, Tayler Warehim and Shannon Smith each scored twice as the Tar Heels toppled No. 15 Virginia Tech 22-1.

Jacelyn Lazore scored Virginia Tech’s only goal at the very end of the first half. Paige Petty, the Hokies’ top midfielder, did not play in the contest.

The Charlotte North Show

Charlotte North scored seven times on seven shots and controlled 11 draws as No. 11 Boston College defeated No. 5 Virginia 20-11. Rachel Hall made 10 saves. The Eagles scored the first goal of the game and never trailed.

Nike/US Lacrosse Top 20

No. 1 North Carolina 22, No. 15 Virginia Tech 1
No. 4 Northwestern 17, No. 8 Penn State 13
Jacksonville 12, No. 6 Florida 11 — Read more about the game here.
No. 11 Boston College 20, No. 5 Virginia 11
No. 13 Towson 17, Georgetown 14
No. 19 Hofstra 12, Villanova 9

No. 14 Loyola at No. 17 Navy, PPD

Other Scores

Albany 19, Binghamton 13
Bucknell 15, Lafayette 7
Campbell 15, Radford 5
Colgate 12, Holy Cross 9
Elon 16, Coastal Carolina 4
Fairfield 12, Niagara 9
Kent State 9, Akron 8
Lehigh 12, American 10
Liberty 20, William and Mary 16
Long Island U 11, Central Connecticut 5
Longwood 11, George Washington 10
Mount St. Mary’s 20, Merrimack 5
Saint Francis 9, Sacred Heart 7
Temple 11, Saint Joseph’s 10 (OT)
UC Davis 20, Fresno State 9
UMass 15, UConn 14 (OT)
UMBC 25, Hartford 7
Vermont 13, New Hampshire 4
Wagner 12, Bryant 6
Youngstown State 12, Detroit Mercy 7

Boston U at Army, PPD
Davidson at Winthrop, PPD