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Northwestern Wins 2023 Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament
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ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats claimed their third Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse championship on Saturday, as they topped Maryland 14-9 at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Northwestern has now won three of the last four Big Ten tournament crowns, adding this title to those won in 2019 and 2021.
The top seeded Wildcats posted their 17th consecutive win, improving to 17-1 on the season. With the win, Northwestern also earns the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Woman’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Northwestern was led by graduate student Izzy Scane, who totaled 14 points on eight goals and six assists, to earn Most Valuable Player honors. An All-Big Ten First Team performer, Scane totaled four goals and a pair of assists in leading the Wildcats to victory.
The Wildcats scored the game’s first two goals in the opening minutes, but Maryland responded with two markers of its own to even the score after the first quarter.
Hannah Leubecker scored in the first minute of the second period to give Maryland its first lead of the game. Both clubs alternated goals throughout the period, but Erin Coykendall found Scane for a goal with just 23 seconds left in the quarter, giving the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.
Coykendall netted two goals to open the third, as Northwestern pushed its lead to 9-6 midway through the stanza. Maryland looked to make a late run, but Hailey Rhatigan pushed the lead back to three at 11-8 after finding the back of the net with 26 seconds on the clock.
Coykendall totaled five points on the night and led a quartet of Wildcats with two goals, while Samantha Smith and Madison Taylor combined for 10 draw controls. Goaltender Molly Laliberty paired 11 saves and four ground balls in the victory.
The No. 1 ranked team in the country, Northwestern hopes to see its name on the top line when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
2023 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team
MVP: Izzy Scane, Gr., Northwestern
Marin Hartshorn, Gr., Rutgers
Cassidy Spilis, Sr., Rutgers
Shaylan Ahearn, Sr., Maryland
Abby Bosco, Gr., Maryland
Libby May, Sr., Maryland
Chrissy Thomas, Jr., Maryland
Maddie Burns, Jr., Michigan
Jill Smith, So., Michigan
Erin Coykendall, Sr., Northwestern
Molly Laliberty, Gr., Northwestern
Hailey Rhatigan, Gr., Northwestern
Izzy Scane, Gr., Northwestern
Samantha White, So., Northwestern
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Northwestern Wildcats claimed their third Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse championship on Saturday, as they topped Maryland 14-9 at the Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Northwestern has now won three of the last four Big Ten tournament crowns, adding this title to those won in 2019 and 2021.
The top seeded Wildcats posted their 17th consecutive win, improving to 17-1 on the season. With the win, Northwestern also earns the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Woman’s Lacrosse Tournament.
Northwestern was led by graduate student Izzy Scane, who totaled 14 points on eight goals and six assists, to earn Most Valuable Player honors. An All-Big Ten First Team performer, Scane totaled four goals and a pair of assists in leading the Wildcats to victory.
The Wildcats scored the game’s first two goals in the opening minutes, but Maryland responded with two markers of its own to even the score after the first quarter.
Hannah Leubecker scored in the first minute of the second period to give Maryland its first lead of the game. Both clubs alternated goals throughout the period, but Erin Coykendall found Scane for a goal with just 23 seconds left in the quarter, giving the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.
Coykendall netted two goals to open the third, as Northwestern pushed its lead to 9-6 midway through the stanza. Maryland looked to make a late run, but Hailey Rhatigan pushed the lead back to three at 11-8 after finding the back of the net with 26 seconds on the clock.
Coykendall totaled five points on the night and led a quartet of Wildcats with two goals, while Samantha Smith and Madison Taylor combined for 10 draw controls. Goaltender Molly Laliberty paired 11 saves and four ground balls in the victory.
The No. 1 ranked team in the country, Northwestern hopes to see its name on the top line when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
2023 Big Ten Women’s Lacrosse All-Tournament Team
MVP: Izzy Scane, Gr., Northwestern
Marin Hartshorn, Gr., Rutgers
Cassidy Spilis, Sr., Rutgers
Shaylan Ahearn, Sr., Maryland
Abby Bosco, Gr., Maryland
Libby May, Sr., Maryland
Chrissy Thomas, Jr., Maryland
Maddie Burns, Jr., Michigan
Jill Smith, So., Michigan
Erin Coykendall, Sr., Northwestern
Molly Laliberty, Gr., Northwestern
Hailey Rhatigan, Gr., Northwestern
Izzy Scane, Gr., Northwestern
Samantha White, So., Northwestern