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.
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.