Northwestern Reclaims Big Ten Title with 14-9 Win Over Maryland

The Scane Train and the Wildcat Wagon roll on.

Northwestern captured reclaimed the Big Ten tournament championship Saturday night, besting Maryland 14-9. Northwestern last won it in 2021. Maryland earned the crown last spring.

NORTHWESTERN WINS THE BIG TEN TITLE.

Fireworks are popping off in Columbus. @NULax downs @MarylandWLax 14-9.

straight wins. pic.twitter.com/hqQR5zXSCv

— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) May 7, 2023

Izzy Scane had four goals and two assists, while four players — Hailey Rhatigan, Erin Coykendall, Dylan Amonte and Madison Taylor — scored twice. Molly Laliberty, a Tufts transfer who has helped galvanize the Northwestern defense, made 11 saves.

Neither team fully gained control until Northwestern built its lead early in the fourth quarter. Early on, it was Maryland doing its best to keep Northwestern from tying. The Terps had leads of 4-3, 5-4 and 6-5, but the latter represented their last advantage.

Taylor tied it at 6, then Scane’s 80th goal of the season gave Northwestern the lead. Coykendall then deposited a pair for a 9-6 lead. Maryland hung around from there, doing enough to keep Northwestern from pulling away but not enough to make a comeback of its own.

Rhatigan’s unassisted goal with 26 seconds left in the third quarter re-established a three-goal lead at 11-8, then she scored again with 12:57 left for a 13-8 lead. Scane iced the game inside two minutes with her fourth score of the game.

The outcome did little to impact either team’s NCAA tournament prospects. Northwestern did likely lock down the tourney’s top overall seed, and Maryland’s at-large resume remains as impressive as it was prior to the opening draw.