Northwestern
17-2
#9 Penn
15-5
No. 1 Northwestern Heading to Fifth Consecutive Final Four, Defeat No. 9 Penn 20-7 in Quarterfinals of NCAA Championship
5/16/2024 9:48:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. – On Thursday evening, top-seed Northwestern (17-2, 5-1 B1G) defeated No. 9 Penn (15-5, 5-2 Ivy League) 20-7 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship. The Wildcats advance to their fifth consecutive Final Four. The team will play on Friday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. CT versus Florida, who upset No. 4 Maryland. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. No. 2 Boston College and No. 3 Syracuse will play each other in the other semifinal, rounding out the Final Four.
CARY, HERE WE COME ???? pic.twitter.com/T7i8XvkE84
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 17, 2024
The Wildcats extended their home winning streak to an incredible 45 games, dating back to 2020.
Together ?????? pic.twitter.com/liaJ9mftNx
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 17, 2024
The Wildcats were led by an 11-point outing from Erin Coykendall (4 goals, 7 assists). Madison Taylor (5 goals, 2 assists), Izzy Scane (4 goals, 2 assists on a team-high 7 shots) and Lindsey Frank (4 goals) also put up numbers offensively. Sisters Madison Smith (6) and Samantha Smith (3) led the team in draw controls.
Our favorite duo is back at it ?? pic.twitter.com/HpJ6AwRZ8d
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 17, 2024
How It Happened
Scoring – for both teams – was tough to come by in the first quarter. Penn got on the board first with a goal by Keeley Block. NU then scored three of the next four to end the first frame up 3-2.
Then the flood gates opened with the 'Cats putting up an eight-piece in the second quarter. Five Northwestern players scored at least 2 goals by halftime (Scane 3, Coykendall 2, Frank 2, Taylor 2, Amonte 2). Scane led the 'Cats with six shots in the first half. NU led 11-4 at halftime.
The game continued to tilt in favor of the Wildcats in the second half. A dominant third quarter in which they scored six more goals – including three from Taylor – put the game out of reach. Lindsey Frank scored two of her four goals in the final frame and Abby LoCascio chipped in with her fifth goal of the season.
NU bested the Quakers in shots, 29-21, shots on goal, 23-13, and draw controls, 19-12.
Game Notes
- The Wildcats had six different goal scorers in tonight's match (Taylor 5, Scane 4, Coykendall 4, Frank 4, Amonte 2, LoCascio).
- Four Northwestern players scored at least four goals: Taylor (5), Scane (4), Coykendall (4), Frank (4).
- 14 of NU's 20 goals came from an assist.
- The 'Cats and Quakers met for the 21st time with NU holding a 17-4 lead in a series that had its first game on March 16, 1984. The most recent encounter resulted in a 17-9 win for the Wildcats in April 2022.
- The Wildcats are now 8-1 all-time when hosting Penn.
- Tonight's game was broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
FINAL FOUR BOUND #catswin pic.twitter.com/PloNupIx0o
— Northwestern Lax (@NULax) May 17, 2024
Up Next
Northwestern advances to their fifth consecutive Final Four. The Wildcats will face Florida, who upset Maryland today, 15-9, in the quarterfinals. The match will take place on Friday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. CT at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, and be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Florida is heading to the Final Four for the second time in program history, and the first time since 2012. They are the first unseeded team to make the Final Four since 2017.
