Northwestern Defense Takes Control, Leads Wildcats into NCAA Quarterfinals

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern is known for its crafty attackers and ability to find the net in any situation. But in Sunday’s second-round victory over Michigan, the top-seeded Wildcats’ defense took control.

It was graduate goalkeeper Molly Laliberty stepping up in the game’s biggest moments, making save after save and prompting cheers from the Northwestern bench. It was junior defender Carleigh Mahoney who netted the game-winner for the Wildcats, looking a mix of overjoyed and bewildered after ripping it low to score. It was sophomore defender Sammy White who caused the game’s final turnover, ensuring the Wildcats ended with the ball.

“It was really awesome we were able to get [the ball] in the midfield,” White said of her game-ending turnover. “I was scrambling for my life trying not to get hit, but anything I can do to help my team is an amazing feeling.”

Their efforts proved key to booking Northwestern’s ticket to the NCAA quarterfinals in an 8-7 win over Michigan. The Wolverines kept the Wildcats on their toes, with White’s caused turnover with 11 seconds left on the clock closing the door on a Michigan comeback. Northwestern hosts eighth-seeded Loyola on Thursday at a time to be determined.

Sunday’s matchup couldn’t have been more different than Northwestern and Michigan’s meetings earlier this season. The Wildcats easily dispatched the Wolverines in games in March and early May, leading at the half by scores of 12-3 and 10-6, respectively. However, Michigan led 5-4 at the half on Sunday — the result of a dynamic full-field performance in the game’s first half hour.

Michigan coach Hannah Nielsen said her team knew they had to start strong after facing significant deficits against the Wildcats earlier this season.

“It was [our] mentality to come out with confidence, knowing that it could be the last game of our season,” Nielsen said. “Ultimately it is, but we’re not scared of them. We’re not intimidated by them. The girls puffed their chests out and had that confidence today.”

This confidence was evident on the Wolverines’ defensive end, as they kept Northwestern uneasy. The Wildcats looked frazzled on attack and in transition, dropping passes and sending several shots straight over the goal. Senior attacker Erin Coykendall opened the scoring for Northwestern less than a minute into the game, but the Wildcats struggled to put together a cohesive first half on attack.

Michigan’s offense was then able to make the most of its opportunities. Kaley Thompson tied the score at 1 just five minutes in, kicking off a back-and-forth affair that culminated in the Wolverines leading at halftime. Laliberty recorded five first half saves and the Wildcats forced seven turnovers, though, indicating that it wasn’t easy for Michigan, either.

Coykendall said her unit played “frantic” during the second and third quarters, and embracing patience was key to staying in the matchup.

“We know that nobody’s going to roll over for us,” Coykendall said. “That’s the mindset we have to have going forward: stay patient and know that this is everyone’s win-or-go-home game.”

Michigan kept its foot on the gas in the third quarter, limiting the Wildcats to two goals and hanging on to a narrow one-goal lead for much of the period.

But Northwestern’s offense slowly came alive in the fourth quarter, beginning with Coykendall twisting through the eight-meter arc to tie it at 6. Over the next four minutes, Rhatigan and Mahoney joined in to make it an 8-6 game –– the Wildcats’ largest lead of the matchup.

Coykendall said Mahoney’s goal was a difference-maker.

“That was one of those juice goals that gets everyone going,” Coykendall said. “It’s plays like that, where things may not be going well for specific people all game or on the offense, and someone else –– like we talked about having each other’s backs –– scores a huge goal for us. We were like, ‘OK, we’ve got this.’”

Mahoney, who scored with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, tallied the final goal for the Wildcats. Michigan scored once more to make it 8-7 with four minutes left, but it couldn’t complete the comeback. The Northwestern defense forced six turnovers in the final quarter.

Perhaps Michigan’s most significant success on Thursday was holding graduate attacker Izzy Scane –– a Tewaaraton finalist and one of the country’s leading goal-scorers –– to her lowest output all season, with one goal and one assist. Nielsen said her defensive coordinator came up with an “unbelievable game plan.”

The back-and-forth nature of Sunday’s matchup provided “an incredible learning experience” for the Wildcats to build on leading into Thursday’s quarterfinal.

“One thing we do well at Northwestern Lacrosse is we evaluate and learn,” head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “I’m very excited for us to evaluate and learn and go forward with incredible fearlessness.”