After one half of Friday’s NCAA Tournament Semifinal at Martin Stadium, Northwestern held a strong 10-3 lead over Johns Hopkins. The advertised battle between top-10 offenses was shaping up for an underwhelming result. 

However, a rejuvenated Blue Jays (17-5, 6-2 Big Ten) offense took the field in the third quarter, scoring four unanswered goals in the first 10 minutes to keep the game within reach. Despite the momentum shift, the Wildcats (18-3, 7-1 Big Ten) didn’t let their lead dip below three goals, with resilience once again key as they advanced to the national championship game with a 16-11 win.

“We talk about resetting a lot. I think it’s been a big thing of ours, and we’ve seen all year that there’s so many ups and downs in games,” senior attacker Madison Taylor said postgame Friday. “When we did take that timeout, we usually take a deep breath and we just kind of try and reset our best and refocus.”

The timeout Taylor referred to came after the third of Johns Hopkins’ third-quarter goals. After the break, NU outscored its opponent 2-1 for the remainder of the quarter and 6-5 over the rest of the contest. In games this season when the ’Cats have led by three or more goals, they have only lost one: a March 15 bout against Ohio State where NU led by four goals in the second quarter before losing 16-15. 

Along with their mental strength, the ’Cats entered the matchup with a monumental experience advantage. NU made its 17th semifinal appearance under coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, while the Blue Jays, led by former NU assistant coach Tim McCormack, were playing in their first Final Four as a Division I program. Amonte Hiller’s record in home NCAA Tournament games now sits at a perfect 39-0. 

One of the biggest keys for the ’Cats during Friday’s win was their dominance on the draw. NU outdrew Johns Hopkins 20-9, and has only lost the draw margin four times in its 21 games this season. 

The ’Cats were especially proficient in the circle during the second quarter, when they won the draw 6-0. As a result, they held possession in the attacking third for a majority of the 15 minutes, attempting 17 shots to the Blue Jays’ one. 

NU’s three-headed primary draw unit, consisting of Taylor, redshirt sophomore midfielder Madison Smith and senior attacker Maddie Epke, controlled 19 of the team’s 20 draws. Amonte Hiller applauded “the three Maddies” after the game. 

“I think they are a pretty unbelievable squad, and I have a ton of fun working with them,” she said postgame Friday. 

After defeating Colorado in a double-overtime quarterfinal thriller, the ’Cats became the first team since Penn in 2007 to play its semifinal game at home. NU is the first Final Four host outside the Eastern time zone, and the fans didn’t disappoint. 

The crowd set a new lacrosse attendance record for Martin Stadium as 6,242 fans watched the ’Cats advance to their fourth consecutive title game. The previous record of 5,805 was set earlier this year at the second annual “Lacrosse Day in Chicago,” which saw NU defeat USC following a win from Notre Dame’s men’s team over Richmond. 

Amonte Hiller acknowledged that Friday’s semifinal start times of 2 and 4:30 p.m. were “a little bit challenging” in terms of gathering a significant crowd, but she nevertheless showed her appreciation for the support and the game’s growth. 

“I think the message that it sends is that the Midwest really does love the game of lacrosse,” Amonte Hiller said. “People really love our program and want to come out and support it. But I think this is bigger than just us; I think this is a chance for little girls to see the game at the highest level.”

Taylor tallied four goals and four assists, putting her two points away from tying the nationwide record for points in tournament games, currently held by former teammate Izzy Scane. Epke notched four goals, two assists and six draw controls. Junior midfielder Taylor Lapointe added a career-high five assists. 

For the second straight season, NU is matching up against North Carolina in the national title game. The Tar Heels won last year’s game, but the ’Cats won the most recent meeting in overtime on March 25. Amonte Hiller called Sunday’s matchup part of a “great rivalry” and said both teams are very motivated. 

NU is given a tall task going against the country’s top scoring offense and a top-5 ranked defense, but home field advantage is on its side. The ’Cats are the first team to play a title game at home since Princeton in 2004, and they are looking to be the first team since Maryland in 1986 to win a national title on home soil.

The game marks the final chapter of multiple collegiate careers, including Taylor’s. But for the veteran, who is looking to close her time at NU with a second national title, getting to play one more game is more than enough.

“We made it to the very last day we could get to, that was our goal and we’re so grateful for that,” Taylor said. “We’ve got 60 more minutes left together no matter what.”

First draw of the NCAA DI Women’s Lacrosse Championship is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN. 

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