Northwestern Avenges February Loss to Colorado in NCAA Quarterfinals

EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern entered Thursday’s NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse quarterfinals looking to make it seven consecutive trips to the final four. The only thing standing in its way was Colorado, a team that beat the Wildcats at home earlier this season.

After 60 minutes didn’t prove to be enough time for the squads to settle their differences, Northwestern midfielder Noel Cumberland sealed the 13-12 revenge win deep into the second overtime period at Martin Stadium. The Wildcats face Johns Hopkins in the semifinal round on May 22.

“It really could’ve gone either way,” Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. “I’m just pleased that, especially in overtime, I think our girls made plays and we were able to finish the job.”

Overtime didn’t seem like a possibility for much of the final three minutes, as the Wildcats held a 12-11 lead along with a player advantage. After the penalty expired, the Buffaloes got the ball in the stick of attacker Maddie Shoup, who spun past her defender and scored to tie the score with four seconds remaining in regulation.

But Colorado didn’t manage to attempt a shot in either of the overtime periods and eventually allowed Cumberland to score after over eight minutes of extra time.

Along with their defense, the Wildcats’ draw unit stepped up throughout the game. After the Buffaloes controlled a draw in the middle of the third quarter, Northwestern won the final eight draws in the contest, helping the team overcome multiple second-half deficits. Wildcats midfielder Madison Smith led the team with seven controls, and attacker Maddie Epke added six.

Despite its success on the draw and nabbing the first goal of the contest, Northwestern looked like a shell of its No. 1-overall-seed self. Through 30 minutes, the Wildcats lost the turnover battle 9-4 while picking up five penalty cards and allowing four player-up goals.

“They know, in the first half, we did not play our best,” Amonte Hiller said. “We talked before the game about not getting cards and we did not follow our own game plan. They were able to draw a lot of fouls and capitalize on those opportunities.”

The Buffaloes added a goal early in the third quarter to take a 9-6 lead, but Northwestern seemed to heed Amonte Hiller’s halftime advice to stay disciplined and play smart. Throughout the remainder of the contest, the team committed just three fouls and earned one penalty card. The Wildcats began to take advantage of Colorado’s mistakes, scoring three of their four goals on player-up opportunities.

The game entered the fourth quarter tied at 10. After six minutes of attrition, Buffaloes attacker Jaimey Hill gave the visitors a temporary lead before Northwestern midfielder Taylor Lapointe answered back three minutes later.

In the waning minutes of regulation, Wildcats attacker Madison Taylor received a pass in the middle of the 8-meter fan and fired a shot to put Northwestern in front for the first time since the opening quarter.

After the game, Taylor applauded the Colorado defense, calling it “the best we’ve seen all season.” She tallied four goals Thursday after scoring six in the team’s first meeting.

“Last time wasn’t our best showing mentally or physically against this team,” Taylor said. “So, I’m just proud of our offense for being able to step up and bring out a different side from what we saw last time.”

After Shoup tied the score at 12 in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, the teams headed to overtime, where neither squad could pull away at first. After Cumberland was fouled near the fan in the fourth minute of the second overtime, the play was reviewed to determine if it warranted a free position.

The review went in favor of the Wildcats, and just one second after the whistle was blown, Cumberland’s shot hit the back of the net and Northwestern was headed back to the final four.

In the loss, Shoup tallied four goals and a game-high four assists. Colorado attacker Keegan Ryan scored four goals. Goalkeeper Elena Oh recorded 11 saves, including four across the two overtime periods. The Buffaloes return home after making the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

“I’m so proud of this group,” Colorado coach Ann Elliott Whidden said. “From the beginning of the season to the end, we believed in ourselves. We fought.”

With the win, Amonte Hiller’s home postseason record moved to 38-0. The Wildcats have now won 27 straight games at their outdoor facility at Martin Stadium.

Northwestern will now face Johns Hopkins on Friday, May 22. The Wildcats won the first matchup 16-12 at home on March 29. Though Amonte Hiller is appreciative of the opportunity, her and her team are only worried about themselves.

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” she said. “We’re just gonna work hard during the week and prepare hard and be focused and try to be the best version of ourselves.”