The 2022 college lacrosse season is nearly upon us. As is our annual tradition, we’re featuring every team ranked in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason Top 20.

Check back to USALaxMagazine.com each weekday this month for new previews, scouting reports and rival analysis.

Northwestern’s fiery offense propelled it to Championship Weekend last May.

The Wildcats dominated opponents, defeating each Big Ten team by at least five goals en route to an undefeated regular season for the first time since 2009. Northwestern notched 322 goals in 16 games — an average of 20.12 that placed them atop the NCAA.

Key to the Wildcats’ success was senior attacker Izzy Scane, who ranked second nationally with 98 goals and earned a nod as a Tewaaraton Award finalist.

But Scane won’t take the field for the Wildcats in 2022. The Michigan native announced in December that she would miss the season due to an ACL injury. This, in addition to the graduation of attackers Lindsey McKone and Sammy Mueller, leaves Northwestern without three of its top four scorers from 2021.

“Everyone’s got to share the weight of the loss,” head coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “Our girls are excited to do that. It’s going to be a real team effort. Everyone’s really got to be a threat on that offensive end.”

Amonte Hiller said the Wildcats played some fall ball games without Scane because of her injury and time spent training with the U.S. women’s national team, allowing them to make adjustments and gain experience playing without her. She also said Scane would remain an important part of the program this season regardless of her injury, bringing an “infectious” energy to the sideline.

Even without Scane, the Wildcats’ offense will likely pose challenges for opponents. Graduate student attacker Lauren Gilbert, who ranked second on the team with 66 goals in 2021, returned to lead the attack and was named a first-team USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American. She’s joined by junior attacker Erin Coykendall, who led the Big Ten and ranked No. 10 nationally in assists last season.

The Wildcats’ openings on attack may mean greater playing opportunities for underclassmen. Freshmen Samantha White and Samantha Smith, both named to the Under Armour All-America Senior Game, headline the Wildcats’ Class of 2025 and could make an immediate impact. Sophomore attacker Leah Holmes is another younger Wildcat poised for a breakout after scoring 21 goals last spring.

While the attack may be younger this season, the program is anchored by four veteran leaders who returned for a fifth year. Gilbert, defender Ally Palermo, midfielder Brennan Dwyer and midfielder Jill Girardi — all starters in 2021 — came back for 2022 to provide stability all around the field.

“Anytime you have players with that level of experience, it adds a whole other dynamic on the field,” Amonte Hiller said. “Those four are excited to learn every day, excited to get better and it’s just bringing a great vibe to the overall team.”

The Wildcats also were dominant on the draw in 2021, leading the country with 19.19 draw controls per game. The return of Girardi, Dwyer and Gilbert — the program’s main three draw specialists — ensures Northwestern will remain formidable on the circle.

The Wildcats enter 2022 with one of the NCAA’s most challenging non-conference schedules, playing five of the top 10 teams through the first month of the season. Amonte Hiller said this is especially exciting because of all the uncertainty surrounding the 2021 season, saying the Wildcats are looking forward to testing themselves early.

“This year, we know what our schedule is,” Amonte Hiller said. “Last year at this time, we had no idea. ‘Are we going to play games? What’s going to happen?’ We didn’t know until a week before the season started. It’s nice to know we’re playing these games on these dates.”

TOP RETURNERS

Ally Palermo, D, Gr.

Palermo has been a key contributor on defense since arriving in Evanston, starting nearly every game during her career. Palermo recorded 30 ground balls and 18 caused turnovers for the Wildcats in 2021 en route to All-Big Ten honors, making her a likely candidate to anchor the defense in 2022.

Lauren Gilbert, A, Gr.

Gilbert was one of the nation’s top players in 2021, ranking ninth nationally in goals scored. Her leadership and creativity on attack will be especially important in 2022 with Scane out for the season and plenty of younger players starting on offense. Expect Gilbert to step up as Northwestern’s top returning scorer and veteran leader on attack.

Brennan Dwyer, M, Gr.

Dwyer’s return is vital to continuing the Wildcats’ success on the draw circle. She has quietly earned her place in the record books during her time at Northwestern, leading the Wildcats all-time in most draw controls in one season and one game. She led the team with 89 draw controls in 2021.

KEY ADDITION

Samantha White, M, Fr.

White arrives in Evanston fresh off a stellar performance at the Under Armour All-American Senior Game, notching a team-leading three draw controls, one ground ball and a caused turnover. White, a three-sport athlete in high school, will bring serious speed and athleticism.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATE

Erin Coykendall, A, Jr.

Coykendall quietly had one of the best offensive seasons in the Big Ten last year. She was one of the youngest players in the Wildcats’ starting attack unit last year, proving to be an important playmaker who is especially creative behind the goal. The Wildcats’ relative inexperience on attack this year gives Coykendall a chance to lead the unit alongside Gilbert.

ENEMY LINES

What rival coaches say about the Wildcats:

“People are not ready for their defense. Their defense is going to absolutely shock people this year. Kelly has taken over their defense, and she has completely transformed it. They’re going to surprise some teams. ”

BEYOND THE BASICS
POWERED BY LACROSSE REFERENCE

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Our hearts go out to Izzy Scane as she works to come back from a knee injury. But it also sets the stage for Erin Coykendall to have a coming out of sorts. She was right there with Belle Martire of William & Mary as the statistical darling of the 2021 season. In terms of career percentiles, Coykendall currently sits in the 99th percentile for assist-to-turnover rate, 96th for shooting percentage, 94th for excess shooting percentage and 90th for ball security. Her assist-to-turnover rate is actually the 17th-best among qualifying players since we’ve tracked the stat. — Zack Capozzi

Lacrosse Reference Glossary