Thursday, May 4
Columbus, Ohio
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
16-1
18
vs
11
#16 Michigan
11-7
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan
2
4
2
3
11
Northwestern
6
4
3
5
18
Photo by: David Dermer/Northwestern Athletics
No. 1 Northwestern Advances to Big Ten Tournament Title
5/4/2023 8:30:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
COLUMBUS – The No. 1 Northwestern lacrosse team is back in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game for the second time in three seasons after defeating No. 16 Michigan 18-11 on Thursday evening in the semifinals at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium. The Wildcats (16-1) will play in their fifth Big Ten Tournament title game against either Maryland or Rutgers at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 6.
"I think it's a great opportunity and our players worked hard for it," said Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "We're excited to be able to compete for a championship, it's something we don't take lightly.
Izzy Scane powered Northwestern's offense with four goals and a season-high four assists, scoring one goal in each period. The graduate student reached the 100-point mark for the season for the second time in her career and leads the nation with 76 goals this season. Both Erin Coykendall and Hailey Rhatigan tied with Scane posting a team-high four scores. Madison Taylor also found the back of the net three times.
The 'Cats won their 16th straight game, the longest streak for the program since winning 23 straight games over the 2011-12 seasons, and improved to 14-0 all-time against Michigan.
A fast start propelled NU to a 6-2 lead after the first quarter as Coykendall and Rhatigan each scored two goals apiece. Coykendall added two more goals in the second period to help Northwestern to a 10-6 halftime edge.
Gallery: (5-4-2023) Big Ten Semifinals
"When an offense has so many threats it's really hard to guard. We can score from a lot of different places and when it's like that you can't really shut down one or two players and be successful," said Scane. "Our team has been doing a great job of just getting the ball moving and being very unselfish. I think we have such a great connection on both the offensive and defensive side. Girls are really okay with doing the work for everyone else to the left and the right of them."
Northwestern widened its lead in the second half behind a five-goal spurt over six minutes of the fourth quarter. Rhatigan scored her 50th goal of the season to cap off the content.
Molly Laliberty registered eight saves in goal, and the Northwestern defense forced 12 Michigan (11-7) turnovers. Samantha Smith and Samantha White each had a game-high seven draw controls, with White tying her career high.
Northwestern will appear in its fifth tournament title game on Saturday night on BTN.
"I think it's a great opportunity and our players worked hard for it," said Northwestern head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller. "We're excited to be able to compete for a championship, it's something we don't take lightly.
WE'LL PLAY FOR THE TITLE ?? pic.twitter.com/WZQ3dPnXNT
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 5, 2023
Izzy Scane powered Northwestern's offense with four goals and a season-high four assists, scoring one goal in each period. The graduate student reached the 100-point mark for the season for the second time in her career and leads the nation with 76 goals this season. Both Erin Coykendall and Hailey Rhatigan tied with Scane posting a team-high four scores. Madison Taylor also found the back of the net three times.
The 'Cats won their 16th straight game, the longest streak for the program since winning 23 straight games over the 2011-12 seasons, and improved to 14-0 all-time against Michigan.
A fast start propelled NU to a 6-2 lead after the first quarter as Coykendall and Rhatigan each scored two goals apiece. Coykendall added two more goals in the second period to help Northwestern to a 10-6 halftime edge.
"When an offense has so many threats it's really hard to guard. We can score from a lot of different places and when it's like that you can't really shut down one or two players and be successful," said Scane. "Our team has been doing a great job of just getting the ball moving and being very unselfish. I think we have such a great connection on both the offensive and defensive side. Girls are really okay with doing the work for everyone else to the left and the right of them."
Northwestern widened its lead in the second half behind a five-goal spurt over six minutes of the fourth quarter. Rhatigan scored her 50th goal of the season to cap off the content.
Molly Laliberty registered eight saves in goal, and the Northwestern defense forced 12 Michigan (11-7) turnovers. Samantha Smith and Samantha White each had a game-high seven draw controls, with White tying her career high.
Northwestern will appear in its fifth tournament title game on Saturday night on BTN.
Team Stats
U-M
NU
Shots
26
37
Turnovers
12
14
Caused Turnovers
7
2
Draw Controls
13
19
Free-Position Shots
5
7
Ground Balls
13
15
Game Leaders
Players
G
4
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
2
CT
0
G
4
A
4
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
0
G
4
A
2
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
0
CT
0
G
3
A
0
FO
-
Pen
-
GB
1
CT
1
Players Mentioned
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
GK
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's LacrosseA
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
D
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