9 hours Ago By Edward Lee
COLLEGE PARK — For almost four quarters on Friday evening, Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse displayed the kind of effort that last year’s team used to push three-time reigning Big Ten champion Northwestern to the limit before running out of gas in a one-goal loss.Alas, a more positive outcome did not materialize as the top-seeded Wildcats got enough of a cushion in the last frame to outlast the No. 5 seed Blue Jays, 16-15, in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal at the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
The game greatly differed from the teams’ regular-season meeting April 3 at Homewood Field in Baltimore in which Northwestern responded to an early 1-0 deficit by outscoring Johns Hopkins, 14-4, for the rest of the first half en route to an 18-5 thumping. In fact, it more closely resembled last year’s semifinal May 2 when the Wildcats outscored the Blue Jays, 4-2, in the final 21 minutes for a 13-12 win.The result, however, left the Blue Jays (12-6) still in search of their first appearance in the Big Ten title game since joining the conference in 2015.
The one silver lining is they don’t have to fret about their profile for the NCAA Tournament as they are considered a lock for an at-large berth and might even be among the top eight seeds that get to host first- and second-round games on opening weekend.Like that game more than three weeks ago in which the Wildcats scored six consecutive goals to assume a 6-1 lead, they utilized a 5-0 run in a span of 7:12 bridging the first and second quarters to record a 6-2 advantage just four minutes into the second period.But Johns Hopkins replied with three unanswered goals in a 1:45 stretch to draw within one midway through the quarter and remained close enough that Northwestern enjoyed just a one-goal lead at 7-6 at halftime.
The Wildcats opened the third quarter with two goals in a 52-second burst and threatened to pull away. But the Blue Jays scored twice in 1:27 and traded tallies with Northwestern, which carried a 13-11 lead into the last period.The Wildcats scored two goals for a 15-11 advantage that matched their largest of the game.
But Johns Hopkins embarked on a 3-0 spurt in a 2:12 span to close the gap to 15-14 with 6:42 remaining.Sophomore attacker Taylor Lapointe converted a feed from junior attacker Lucy Munro to give Northwestern a 16-14 lead with 5:54 to go. Senior attacker Charlotte Smith’s goal with 4:00 left cut the deficit in half, but the Blue Jays could not get the equalizer on two offensive possessions that would have sent the game into overtime.
Smith, a Baltimore native and Bryn Mawr graduate, came off the bench to lead Johns Hopkins (12-6) with five points on two goals and three assists, and sophomore attacker Taylor Hoss added two goals and two assists. Junior attacker Ava Angello scored three goals.Fresh off a 10-caused turnover, eight-ground ball outing in Wednesday’s 13-8 victory over No.
4 seed Penn State in the tournament semifinals, junior defender Reagan O’Brien totaled six caused turnovers, five ground balls, three draw controls and one assist. And junior goalkeeper Morgan Giardina made a game-high 12 saves.Related ArticlesUSC basketball recruit Alijah Arenas, 18, is out of an induced coma after fiery Cybertruck accidentNavy lacrosse’s Jacob Darrow, a cancer survivor, worked for a starting roleLoyola Maryland women’s lacrosse wins another Patriot League title | ROUNDUPCan Travis Hunter really play both offense and defense in the NFL? Champ Bailey knows the obstacles.
Judge delays $2.8 billion NCAA settlement to address roster limit concernsThe Blue Jays fared well despite the continued absence of senior attacker Ashley Mackin. The offense’s leader in goals (55) who also ranked second in points (73), Mackin no longer wore a walking boot on her right foot, but was in street clothes and sat out her fifth consecutive game.
But Johns Hopkins has been denied two straight times in the semifinals by the Wildcats (15-2), who will meet the winner of the second semifinal between No. 2 seed Maryland (13-4) and No. 3 seed Michigan (12-5) in Sunday’s title game at 4 p.
m. Northwestern will take aim at its third consecutive tournament crown and fifth overall, which would snap a tie with the Terps for the most tournament championship in league history.Graduate student attacker Niki Miles paced the Wildcats with game highs in both goals (five) and points (six).
Junior attacker Madison Taylor compiled four goals and one assist, and senior midfielder Sam Smith controlled a game-best 12 draws and scored two goals.Taylor entered the game leading the country in total goals (83) and points (117) and goals per game (5.2) and points per game (7.
3). She has scored at least three goals in 16 of Northwestern’s 17 games this spring.The win was Northwestern’s 15th consecutive against Big Ten rivals.
The team has not suffered a setback to a conference foe since March 22, 2024 when Penn State held on for a 13-12 decision.This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Edward Lee at eklee@baltsun.
com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/EdwardLeeSun..
