Northwestern, UNC Punch Tickets to NCAA Tournament with Conference Titles

Maryland certainly made things interesting — but Jenika Cuocco was insistent.

Northwestern appeared well on its way to a fourth Big Ten championship in a row only for the Terps to score four goals in the fourth quarter to force overtime. They kept the pressure on to begin overtime by winning the opening draw, only for Cuocco to stuff Kori Edmondson following a timeout.

After an empty possession by Northwestern, Maryland again threatened with two shots on cage — both of which were denied by Cuocco. The graduate transfer from Drexel finished with 18 saves, which tied the conference tournament’s single-game record, and made it possible for Annabel Child to score the overtime winner.

For the second year in a row, Northwestern beat Maryland by an 8-7 score for the conference crown. It’s the Wildcats’ fourth Big Ten title in a row.

Child, a converted defender from Harvard who earned Ivy League plaudits for her defensive work a year ago, deposited three goals. Aditi Foster scored twice. Their offense was welcomed during a game in which Madison Taylor struggled to get going. She shot 1-for-12, with her lone goal putting Northwestern ahead 2-1 with 4:46 left in the first quarter.

After a scoreless second quarter by both sides, Northwestern entered halftime with a 3-1 lead and pushed its lead to 5-1 when Child scored the first two goals of the second half.

The Wildcats maintained a four-goal lead at 7-3 with 11 minutes remaining, but Maryland upped the offensive pressure. One goal apiece from Edmondson, Maisy Clevenger, Lauren Lapointe and Keeley Block tied things up at 7.

Both teams had opportunities to win it in regulation, but neither was successful.

By locking up the conference tournament crown, Northwestern — in all likelihood — will be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Selection Sunday is next Sunday, May 3.

HUMPHREY LEADS UNC TO ACC CROWN

Chloe Humphrey scored four goals, surpassing her own single-season program record in the process, leading North Carolina to its second-straight ACC title with a 12-8 win over Stanford at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.

Kate Levy and Addison Patillo added hat tricks. North Carolina won 13 of 20 draw controls, starting the game on a 6-0 run in the circle.

Even despite the Tar Heels’ draw dominance, an effort largely led by Sarah Gresham and Kaleigh Harden, Stanford stuck around. The Cardinal trailed 4-3 at the end of the first quarter and 8-5 at halftime, but UNC created some separation in the third quarter.

Levy scored on one of several woman-up opportunities afforded to the Tar Heels, making it 9-5, then Eliza Osburn followed four minutes later to extend the lead to 10-5. Pattillo then assisted Humphrey for a six-goal cushion.

Stanford closed it to 11-8 on goals by Jordyn Case and Ava Arceri within the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, but Levy scored again with 8:04 left, and both sides went scoreless the remainder of the game.

North Carolina, with just one loss this season (an overtime loss to Northwestern), should be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

LOYOLA, BUCKNELL ADVANCE IN PATRIOT LEAGUE QUARTERS

A six-goal run to open the second half and a defensive stand lasting 23 minutes were enough to lift Loyola to a 13-7 win over a plucky Boston University team in the first of two Patriot League quarterfinals on Sunday.

The Greyhounds got goals from seven players, with Morgan Quade leading the way with two goals and four assists.

Bucknell snuck away with a win in the other quarterfinal, beating Holy Cross 14-13 despite the Crusaders’ 5-0 run to close the game. Megan Krestinski and Katie Browne each had three goals for Bucknell.

Top-seeded Navy will play fourth-seeded Bucknell in the semifinals at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, in Annapolis. Third-seeded Loyola will play second-seeded Army at 7 p.m. in Annapolis.

LOWER SEEDS PREVAIL IN MAAC QUARTERS

Sixth-seeded Quinnipiac beat third-seeded Canisius 13-11, and fifth-seeded Siena took down fourth-seeded Mount St. Mary’s 9-8 in the MAAC quarterfinals, setting up Friday’s semifinal round.

Cass Belsito scored the winner for Siena with 13 seconds left, taking advantage of a woman-up situation to lift the Saints. Five different players scored twice for Quinnipiac, and Shannon Alden made 12 saves to lift the Bobcats.

Quinnipiac will play top-seeded Fairfield at noon in Fairfield, and Siena will head to second-seeded Niagara for a 4 p.m. start.