Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — Only Maryland has won more women’s national lacrosse championships than Northwestern’s eight – all coming since 2005.

By Memorial Day, the Wildcats could be one title closer to catching the Terrapins and their 14 trophies.

After those two programs, no other school has won more than three national lacrosse titles.

At the moment, however, the Northwestern Wildcats are queens of the sport. The reigning national champions are the No. 1 seed of this year’s tournament. Sporting a 17-2 record, the Wildcats will take a nine-match winning streak into Friday’s Final Four matchup against unseeded Florida (20-2).

Should Northwestern take out the upstart Gators, a possible national-championship game rematch with No. 2 Boston College, which faces No. 3 Syracuse in the other semifinal, would be on tap Sunday.

However, the way Northwestern has played since the beginning of last season, a second consecutive title seems very much for the taking. Trying to become the first repeat national champs since Maryland in 2014 and ‘15, the Wildcats are among the nation’s highest-scoring teams, averaging 17.1 goals and have outscored their first two NCAA tournament opponents 37-17. 

Six different Wildcats scored in their 20-7 quarterfinal rout of No. 8 Penn last week. 

“We have great depth in the circle, in terms of who we can turn to, and were able to do that,” Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, whose program is making a fifth consecutive Final Four appearance, told Inside NU. “That can be disruptive...When you have different people coming in.” 

Northwestern star attacker Izzy Scane, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer after breaking the previous record of 358 during the 17-4 win over Denver in the second round of the tournament, paves the way with 79 goals this season. Teammate Madison Taylor is close behind with 75, while Erin Coykendall and Dylan Amonte scored 41 apiece.

However, the Wildcats’ greatest attribute entering the Final Four, aside from a tremendous wealth of collective talent, is their focus and confidence.  

Northwestern has shown in the NCAA tournament, alone, that they are head-and-shoulders above the rest of the field. Even though a storied program like Boston College is no stranger to playing, and succeeding, on such a grand stage, the Wildcats seem to be on another level – and welcome all the hype and pressure that goes with being the best.

“We know what we’re walking into,” Northwestern goalie Molly Laliberty told CBS News Chicago. 

Their play in the field is methodical from within, but likely looks like controlled chaos to opponents. Even the toughest of foes are trying to keep up with Northwestern’s attack or transition. 

“We just feel a level of confidence that we can prepare for whatever hits us,” Hiller said. 

Florida’s surprising trek to this point in the NCAA tournament is a nice story, and taking down the mighty Wildcats on Friday would rank as one of the great upsets in the history of the sport. However, the Wildcats seemed to have been on a destined course since moments after they raised the national championship hardware in 2023. 

“We’re trying to just live in the moment and enjoy it,” Scane said. 

“Got to lock in and hope we make some more good (memories) this year.” 

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