NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Playing on consecutive days, the third time in four days, and trailing 6-2 midway through the first half, Albion College appeared to be in danger of losing for the first time this season.

Instead, Albion rallied for four goals to forge a 6-6 tie at halftime and it tacked on eight goals in the second half to pull away for a 14-8 victory over North Central College in a non-league women's lacrosse contest.

Albion finished with a 17-7 advantage in draw controls, but it was unable to maintain possession early in the contest. Four of Albion's first five possessions ended in turnovers as North Central jumped out to a 3-1 lead.

"We had to trust the game plan," Albion Head Coach Shanta Loecker said. "We needed to calm down because I think we got rattled by playing our most competitive opponent so far this season.

"I have to give a shout out to Kadie Koolwick," Loecker added. "She and Ashley Glenn worked together on non-verbal communication to control possession in the second half. Kadie played every second and she was so positive and so directive. It was an awesome example of leadership and everybody fed off that."

First-year attacker Cait Gaitley scored 40 seconds after Albion called timeout after falling behind 6-2. Koolwick scored 3 ½ minutes later and Julie Wood scored twice as Albion pulled even at halftime.

Wood sandwiched goals around an Ashley Glenn tally as Albion seized a 9-6 lead with 20 minutes to play. North Central scored twice to cut the margin to a goal, but Koolwick took over by producing the next three goals.

Wood assisted on the final two goals as Shannon Kahl and Glenn scored.

Goalkeeper Victoria Della Pia collected 10 saves in one of the finest performances of her career.

"Victoria made some big saves to keep them from getting momentum," Loecker said. "She has been so solid."

Della Pia, Glenn, Kahl, Makenzie Frederickson, and Lauren Wiegand all collected at least three ground balls as Albion gobbled up 23 in the contest.

"Our work ethic is where it needs to be," Loecker said. "It comes down to our effort on loose balls, ground balls and on the draw control. That is stuff you can't teach. It allows us to focus more on strategy."

Albion, 4-0 overall, continues non-league play next Wednesday when it travels to Berea, Ohio, for an evening contest against Baldwin-Wallace University.