Northwestern
#5 Denver
No. 1 Northwestern Takes On No. 5 Denver in NCAA Semifinals
5/25/2023 11:06:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
| NORTHWESTERN LACROSSE: GAME INFORMATION | |||||
| DATE | Opponent | TIME | LOCATION | Watch | Live Stats |
| Friday, May 26 | No. 5 Denver | 2 p.m. CT | WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, N.C. |
ESPNU | Live Stats |
| Social: Twitter: @NULax | Instagram: @nu_lax | |||||
EVANSTON, Ill. — Appearing in its fourth straight Final Four, No. 1 Northwestern heads south to Cary, N.C., for a date with No. 5 Denver in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Friday, May 25. The game will start at 2:00 p.m. CT and air on ESPNU.
The clash between the Wildcats and Pioneers pits the nation's top scoring offense against the country's top scoring defense. Northwestern (19-1), led by graduate student attacker Izzy Scane, who has tallied 89 goals this season, are fueled by its offense, averaging 17 goals per game. Meanwhile, Denver (22-0) has been an defensive force, conceding just 5.82 scores per contest this season. The 'Cats have been held to single-digit scoring just once year, while the Pioneers have yet to surrender double digit goals to an opponent all season.
Friday's meeting between Northwestern and Denver marks just the sixth time since 2004 the two schools have faced each other — the Wildcats won the previous five games. The 'Cats and Pioneers most recently met in 2021, as Amonte Hiller's bunch drubbed the visiting Pioneers 19-4 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Evanston.
Northwestern is seeking its first national championship appearance in more than a decade. Now 11 years removed from Amonte Hiller's last title team, the 'Cats are looking to return to glory and secure the program's eighth national title.
10 Things to Know
- Northwestern's victory against No. 9 Loyola Maryland in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals stretched its winning streak to 19 games — the second longest in the nation, trailing only Denver's 22 consecutive victories.
- Facing the nation's second-best scoring defense in the quarterfinals, the Wildcats tallied 16 scores — the most goals Loyola Maryland conceded all season.
- Northwestern and Denver faced off in three consecutive seasons from 2004-06 and once more in 2009 before a decade-long hiatus was broken when the two programs met again in 2021.
- Following the win over the Greyhounds, Amonte Hiller improved her NCAA Tournament record to 51-11 (.823), making her the winningest coach in the competition's history.
- Since Amonte Hiller took over the program in 2002, the Wildcats have appeared in 14 Final Fours.
- Scane and senior attacker Erin Coykendall were both named finalists for the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the nation's top male and female lacrosse player. It's the first time since 2008 that Northwestern has had two finalists and the third time overall.
- Scane's 10-point performance against the Greyhounds last Thursday was her second-highest points total on the season. It was also the first game she tallied at least seven goals in since March 15.
- Graduate student goalkeeper Molly Laliberty, fresh off a seven-save performance against Loyola Maryland, will be making her fourth career Final Four appearance on Friday. She appeared in three Final Fours at Division III Tufts University before transferring to Northwestern.
- The 'Cats, led by Scane's 4.94 goals per game average, continue to pace the country offensively with 17 scores per contest.
- Since the program's last national title in 2012, Northwestern is making its sixth Final Four appearance. The 'Cats are hoping to advance past the semifinal round for the first time since 2012 on Friday.
