EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Erin Fitzgerald scored three goals and defending national champion Northwestern defeated Notre Dame 12-7 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament.
Taylor Thornton and Lacey Vigmostad each added two goals for the second-ranked Wildcats (18-2) who took charge of the game in the second half and rebounded from a 14-7 loss to No. 1 Florida last week in the American Lacrosse Conference final.
Both of Northwestern’s losses this season are to the Gators.
Northwestern will host the winner of Sunday’s game between Duke and Virginia in the quarterfinals next weekend. The Wildcats have won six of the past seven NCAA titles, missing only in 2010.
Betsy Mastropieri and Kaitlyn Brosco each had two goals for Notre Dame (13-5), which went 5-5 down the stretch after starting the season 8-0.
