Northwestern
15-2
#15 Penn State
11-7
Northwestern Crowned 2024 Big Ten Tournament Champions with 14-12 Win over Penn State
5/4/2024 8:40:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. – On Saturday, No. 1 Northwestern (15-2, 5-1 B1G) defeated No. 15 Penn State (11-7, 4-2 B1G) 14-12, winning the Big Ten Tournament championship for the fourth time in school history. The game was played outdoors at a sold-out Martin Stadium and then moved inside to Ryan Fieldhouse for the final 96 seconds of the match because of inclement weather.
We Are The Champions ?? pic.twitter.com/RxjjKJX4lT
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 5, 2024
Today's victory marks Northwestern's third sweep of both the regular season and Big Ten Tournament titles in the same season (2021, 2023). The Wildcats extended their home winning streak to an incredible 43 games.
Northwestern has now won four of the last five Big Ten Tournament crowns, adding this title to those won in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Counting Northwestern's time in the American Lacrosse Conference, the 2024 Big Ten Tournament title marks the tenth conference tournament championship in program history.
Izzy Scane was named tournament MVP, scoring a team-high five goals and dishing out one assist on championship Saturday. Scane tied the NCAA goal-scoring record set by Charlotte North (358). She will have an opportunity to break the record in the NCAA Tournament. Erin Coykendall, Kendall Halpern, Jane Hansen and Madison Taylor joined Scane on the all-tournament team.
IZZY TIES THE ALL-TIME NCAA GOAL RECORD pic.twitter.com/GfkX5MXzdD
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 4, 2024
The Wildcats – as they have been all season – were led by Scane (5 goals, 1 assist on a team-high 8 shots) Taylor (3 goals, 1 assist), and Dylan Amonte (2 goals, 2 assists). Taylor (8), Sammy White (4) and Samantha Smith (3) led the team in draw controls. Molly Laliberty made 10 saves for NU.
How It Happened
The Nittany Lions started off strong, dominating the first quarter. Penn State received four goals from four different goal scorers to start the game. They led 4-1 at the end of the first frame.
Looking for revenge against one of the two teams – the other being Notre Dame – to beat them in the regular season, the Wildcats stormed back, controlling the second quarter. Scane continued her scoring prowess by burying her third goal of the game before halftime. The 'Cats led 6-5 at halftime.
Northwestern started off the second half on the right foot. Two Wildcats, Lindsey Frank and Mary Schumar, scored their first goals of the game within the first two minutes after the break. The 'Cats pulled away and in the third quarter and didn't look back. At the end of three, Northwestern led 12-6.
Penn State didn't give up, winning the final frame 6-2. In the final 96 seconds, the Nittany Lions scored twice to bring it within two, but time ran out and Northwestern was once again crowned champions.
NU bested the Nittany Lions in shots, 29-27, and draw controls, 17-12.
Game Notes
- Scane tied the NCAA goal-scoring record set by Charlotte North (358). She will have an opportunity to break the record in the NCAA Tournament.
- The Wildcats snapped Penn State's four game winning streak. PSU had defeated Ohio State and No. 25 Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament to advance to the championship game.
- Penn State handed the Wildcats one of their two losses during the regular season, 14-13, in University Park, Pa. on March 22.
Up Next
Northwestern advances to the NCAA Tournament. The 2024 NCAA DI women's lacrosse bracket will be revealed in a selection show tomorrow, May 5 at 8:00 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The championship gets underway with 13 games at host sites on May 10.
The three top overall seeds will earn a first round bye, with the remaining 26 teams playing first round games at campus sites. The semifinals and championship game will be played on May 24 and 26 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
