HEMPSTEAD, New York -- Danielle Spencer scored a career-high six goals and Hilary Bowen added five goals and two assists to lead #1 Northwestern to a 22-4 victory over Hofstra at James M. Shuart Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The loss drops Hofstra's record to 2-1 this season and marks the third straight season that the Pride has fallen to #1 Northwestern. The defending National Champion Wildcats, meanwhile, improve to 3-0 in 2008.

Hannah Nielsen opened up the scoring at the 27:04 mark of the first half and the Wildcats would tally six goals over the next 2:21 to take a commanding 6-0 lead en route to a 14-0 halftime advantage. Spencer and Bowen each had four goals in the opening stanza, while Nielsen chipped in with three goals and an assist.

Hofstra would finally get on the board with 22:50 remaining in the second half when freshman attack Kailey Ruszkowski (Ronkonkoma, NY) scored on a free-position shot to make the score 15-1. The Pride would add its second goal of the contest just under three minutes later when freshman attack Sylvia Queener (Penn Yan, NY) made a beautiful feed to junior midfielder Lauren Whitcomb (East Rochester, NY) in front of the net for Whitcomb's fifth goal of the season.

The Pride's final two goals in the game would come from freshmen as attack Stephanie Rice (Skaneateles, NY) tallied her fourth of the season with 11:15 left and midfielder Katie Hertsch (Westminster, MD) scored her first career goal with 3:10 left to close the score for Hofstra.

Katrina Dowd would find the back of the net twice in the final minute-plus for Northwestern as the Wildcats notched the 22-4 victory.

Hertsch led Hofstra with three draw controls and three ground balls in the game, while senior goalie Maisie Osteen (Charlottesville, VA) tied her for team-high honors with three ground balls as well. Whitcomb tallied a team-best two caused turnovers in the contest.

Spencer had a game-high seven draw controls for Northwestern, while Morgan Lathrop led the nation's top ranked team with five ground balls. Christy Finch had three caused turnovers to lead the Wildcats defensive efforts.

Osteen took the loss for the Pride, as she made four saves in 44:37 minutes of action. Lathrop made five saves for Northwestern to pick up the win for the Wildcats.

Hofstra will now have a nine-day layoff until its next game, as the Pride will travel to Cornell on Friday, March 7 for a 4:00 p.m. contest.

Score by Period       1  2  Tot
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Northwestern........ 14  8 - 22
Hofstra.............  0  4 -  4
 
Attendance: 386
 
Northwestern SCORING:
GOALS: Spencer, Danielle 6; Bowen, Hilary 5; Nielsen, Hannah 4;
       Dowd, Katrina 3; Donohoe, Casey 1; Santulli, Samantha 1;
       Tesar; Caroline 1; Casey, Mary Kate 1.
ASSISTS: Bowen, Hilary 2; Nielsen, Hannah 1.
 
Hofstra SCORING:
GOALS: Rice, Stephanie 1; Whitcomb, Lauren 1; Hertsch, Katie 1;
       Ruszkowski, Kailey 1.
ASSISTS: Queener, Sylvia 1; Soviero, Lindyn 1.
 
SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........ 21 11 - 32
Hofstra.............  7 10 - 17
 
GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........ 12  6 - 18
Hofstra............. 13  7 - 20
 
DRAW CONTROLS BY PRD  1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........ 13  7 - 20
Hofstra.............  2  5 -  7
 
CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     Total
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Northwestern........  8-8   8-8  - 16-16
Hofstra.............  7-12  6-7  - 13-19
 
FREE-POSITION SHOTS    1     2     Total
----------------------------------------
Northwestern........  2-3   1-2  -  3-5
Hofstra.............  0-3   1-2  -  1-5
 
SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........  3  3 -  6
Hofstra.............  3  3 -  6
 
FOULS BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........ 10  6 - 16
Hofstra............. 10  4 - 14
 
TURNOVERS BY PRD      1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Northwestern........  9  7 - 16
Hofstra.............  8  7 - 15

2008-02-26