EVANSTON, Ill. - The sixth-ranked University of Pennsylvania women's lacrosse team mounted a second half rally in hostile territory on Sunday afternoon, but was unable to hold off No. 5 Northwestern, dropping a 17-13 decision. The loss is Penn's second of the year, as the Quakers sit at 8-2 with five Ivy League games remaining in the regular season.

PENN NEWS AND NOTES
*Sophomore Zoe Belodeau led the team with four goals on the day, increasing her team lead for the season to 26.

*Freshman Taylyn Stadler matched her career high with three goals, all coming in the first half.

*After being inserted on the draw midway through the game, freshman Michaela McMahon boasted a strong performance in the circle, collecting a career-best five draw controls.

*The nation's fifth-highest assister did not disappoint on Sunday, as junior Gabby Rosenzweig finished with four on the day, adding in two goals for a team-high six points.

*Madison Jiranek and Liv Smith each earned the first starts of their career on Sunday. Jiranek capitalized, scoring her first career goal in the first half.

*Penn falls to 4-15 all-time against the Wildcats.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening stanza of the game proved difficult for Penn's defense, as Northwestern scored on 10 of its first 12 possessions to shoot out to a 10-4 advantage over 12 minutes into the game. Penn relied on its freshman class to produce offensively, as Stadler and Jiranek combined for the Quakers' first three scores of the day. 

The Red and Blue were able to buckle down, holding the Wildcats scoreless for over seven minutes, but couldn't chip away at the lead with two turnovers and two saved shots on the offensive end. Another goal from Stadler and the period's final score from Belodeau helped Penn stay within shouting distance, but facing a steep hill, down 13-7 at the break.

Things didn't start much better in the second for the Quakers, as Northwestern recorded three of the first four goals in the back half of the game, putting the Quakers on the verge of a running clock down 16-8.

That would not be the case though, as Penn found its groove on offense, while simultaneously correcting its errors on defense to shutdown the Cats. Two straight scores, first on a free position opportunity from McMahon followed by a strike from Belodeau, drew the Quakers within 16-10, and a strong performance from McMahon in the circle kept the possession in Penn's favor as another quick score from Rosenzweig on a free position continued the momentum, at 16-11. 

Rosenzweig wasn't done there, as the junior took it herself with 10:19 remaining to put Penn in a strong position, down just four.

Despite maintaining the bulk of possession, Penn was stifled in the subsequent minutes, unable to get a clear look in front of the net. Rosenzweig resumed her role of helper with 3:19 to play, finding a cutting McMahon to push the Penn run to 5-0.

The Wildcats put the nail in the coffin following her score though, earning the next draw and scoring to make it 17-13, putting the game out of reach with just over two minutes to play. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
It's all Ivy League play from here on out for the Quakers, as Penn will travel to Rhode Island to face Brown next weekend, Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m.