Much like it did Friday night against Rutgers, Northwestern didn’t come out of the gate scoring at will — something we’ve come to expect from the Wildcats.
The nation’s No. 1 offense trailed Maryland by three goals with 9:55 left in the first half, and it had yet to break through until Izzy Scane took matters into her own hands (or stick) like she so often does.
Scane, the nation’s leading scorer, registered five consecutive goals spanning the first and second halves, turning a 7-4 deficit into a 9-7 lead. The Northwestern scoring run continued as Lindsey McKone, Dylan Amonte and Lauren Gilbert kept it alive, extending the lead to 12-7.
IZZY SCANE SPIN CYCLE
— Northwestern Athletics (@NU_Sports) May 2, 2021
Unstoppable stuff for her fourth goal of the day. @NULax is tied after the first half.#GoCats pic.twitter.com/zpKuZunPCo
Northwestern hung on despite a rigorous comeback attempt from Maryland, capturing the program’s second consecutive Big Ten championship.
Scane scored nine times, tying the single-game tournament record set by Cassidy Spilis of Rutgers on Friday against Scane’s Wildcats. Northwestern scored 41 goals in the tournament, tying the tournament record.
Maryland appeared to be in control early. The Terps led 3-0 and 5-1. Libby May scored three goals in the first 4:11, then Brindi Griffin took the reins. Griffin’s falling backhander put the Terps ahead 6-3.
“Slickness personified!”@DixonLacrosse with the call on Brindi Griffin’s big goal for @MarylandWLax, which leads Northwestern 6-3
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) May 2, 2021
pic.twitter.com/Z2LL3sgGm1
Shaylan Ahearn, Grace Griffin and Hannah Warther were key offensive weapons as Maryland looked to shrink the gap, eventually cutting the deficit to 12-10. As Lizzie Colson continued making plays and earning her team possession, the Terps kept capitalizing and appeared to have Northwestern on the ropes.
But Scane bookended a responding 3-0 run (Brennan Dwyer had the middle goal) that pushed the lead back to 15-10 with 7:36 remaining.
Scane scored again with 40 seconds left — her 81st goal of the season — for the final score.
Northwestern will surely earn a national seed in the NCAA tournament, though without the benefit of playing non-conference competition, it remains to be seen how the selection committee will value Northwestern’s undefeated 13-0 record and blistering offense.
The NCAA Selection Show is Sunday, May 9, at 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU.