Northwestern
13-2, 5-1B1G
#4 Michigan
14-2, 4-2B1G
Northwestern Wins Big Ten Title in a 13-12 Thriller at Michigan
4/21/2024 2:14:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Sunday afternoon, No. 1 Northwestern (13-2, 5-1 B1G) beat No. 4 Michigan (14-2, 4-2 B1G) 13-12 to win the 2024 Big Ten title. The final Big Ten regular season game was played outdoors at U-M Lacrosse Stadium.
BACK TO BACK ?? pic.twitter.com/F2UtaAvIrM
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 21, 2024
This is the Lake Show's 11th conference regular season championship and its third in the past four seasons (2021, 2023). Northwestern also clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament that will be hosted in Evanston at Martin Stadium.
NO SUNDAY BLUES IN SIGHT ?? pic.twitter.com/lzkmw9dFUs
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 21, 2024
The Wildcats were led by reigning Big Ten offensive player of the week Erin Coykendall (4 goals, 1 assist on team-leading 8 shots), Madison Taylor (3 goals, 2 assists), and Izzy Scane (3 goals, 1 assist). Madison Taylor (4), Samantha Smith (4) and Madison Smith (3) led the team in draw controls. Molly Laliberty made eight saves, many of them timely, for NU.
How It Happened
The game started off as a defensive battle. The first goal of the game wasn't scored until seven and a half minutes into the opening quarter. The low-scoring first frame ended with the Wolverines up 2-1, with each team taking eight shots.
Northwestern took their first lead of the game, going up 3-2, in the second quarter. The Wolverines then charged back and led at the half, 6-4.
Northwestern turned it up to start the second half, scoring the first three goals. Then they really turned it on. Both Coykendall and Taylor scored their third goal of the game in the third frame. The Wildcats dominated, winning the quarter 7-2.
After Scane scored to open the final quarter, Michigan charged back scoring the next four goals. The game was tied 12-12 with three minutes left when Dylan Amonte scored on a powerful shot from the arc that proved to be the game-winner. The Wildcats then caused a turnover that was recovered by Sammy White with 90 seconds left to seal the victory.
STRAIGHT HEAT FROM DYLAN ??????
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) April 21, 2024
13-12 'Cats pic.twitter.com/DTcWM78Fwx
NU bested the Wolverines in shots on goal, 22-20, and won the draw control battle 18-11.
Game Notes
- Scane is seven goals away from breaking the NCAA goal-scoring record set by Charlotte North (358).
- A Wildcat trio of Coykendall, Scane & Taylor earned Tewaaraton Award nominations this week.
- As a player at Northwestern from 2006-09, Michigan head coach Hannah Nielsen achieved the ultimate success, winning four national championships and receiving the sport's highest honors as a two-time Tewaaraton Award and Honda Sports Award winner in 2008 and 2009.
- Northwestern scored 13 goals against the Wolverines whose goalie, Erin O'Grady, had the lowest goals against average (5.69) in the conference heading into the game.
- NU's Lindsey Frank scored once for the Wildcats.
- This was the 16th all-time meeting between these programs. The Wildcats have never lost.
Up Next
Northwestern has secured the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be held in Evanston at Martin Stadium. Along with the No. 1 seed, Northwestern has earned a first-round bye and will open tournament play on Thursday, May 2 with a semifinal contest on its home turf. Both semifinals will take place May 2, with the championship on May 4. The tournament will air nationally on Big Ten Network. Tickets for both the semifinals and final are available here.
