The best season in program history ended in heartbreak for the Colorado women’s lacrosse team.
The Buffaloes held a narrow lead for the bulk of the match but couldn’t hold off top-seeded Northwestern down the stretch in regulation, as CU suffered a 13-12 defeat in double overtime in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals Thursday at Northwestern’s Martin Stadium.
Noel Cumberland scored the winner for the Wildcats with 1 minute, 43 seconds remaining in the second overtime. The Wildcats advanced to the Final Four for the seventh consecutive time, while a season that featured the first conference tournament championship and NCAA quarterfinals berth in team history ended for the Buffaloes.
“We came up one play short,” said CU head coach Ann Elliott Whidden, a former player and assistant coach at Northwestern. “But I’m proud of my team for the fight. There were times we could’ve given up. I’m proud of our fight. I’m proud of our ability to even get the game into overtime. We were just one play short.
“Northwestern is such a great team with a strong history of success and Final Fours. For us, I’m proud of the group and proud of this senior class for everything they’ve given this program.”
The Buffs (16-4) led 9-6 early in the third quarter, but Northwestern rallied into a 10-10 tie going into the fourth. Northwestern led 12-11 with three minutes remaining in regulation, but CU’s Maddie Shoup made a nifty one-on-one move to score with four seconds to go, sending the game into overtime.
After a scoreless first overtime, the Buffs opened the second extra session with a player advantage thanks to a penalty late in the first overtime on Northwestern All-American Madison Taylor. The Buffs couldn’t convert, and after the teams traded turnovers, CU goalie Elena Oh made a pair of clutch saves. However, the Buffs couldn’t regain possession after each of Oh’s saves, and Cumberland ultimately won the game on a free position chance.
It was a memorable career finale for Shoup, who recorded four goals and four assists to post a career-high eight points. Northwestern became the first team to post a double-digit goal total against a CU defense that entered the match leading the nation in fewest goals allowed.
Northwestern posted a 24-18 advantage in shots on goal and dominated the draws, 20-7. The Buffs forced 19 turnovers from the Wildcats, but CU was unable to put up a shot in either overtime session.
“Obviously Maddie had an amazing day, and thatap a testament to her character. Her confidence, her competitiveness,” Elliott Whidden said. “For this team to be able to stick with it in those moments was incredible. I think down to the end we believed we were going to win and could win.
“A couple things short. We needed to do a little bit better in the clear. A few too many opportunities to a really good team, and itap tough that way. At the end of the day, what a great game. We just had to make one more play.”
(1) Northwestern 13, (8) CU Buffs women’s lacrosse 12 (2OT)
Colorado 5 3 2 2 0 0 — 12
Northwestern 3 3 4 2 0 1 — 13
Goals — Colorado: Shoup 4, Ryan 4, Edson, Gardner, Hill, Kennedy. Northwestern: Taylor 4, LaPointe 3, Epke 2, Cumberland, Foster, Locascio, Ratanaproeksa.
Assists — Colorado: Shoup 4, Assini 2, Edson 2, Hill. Northwestern: Cumberland 2, Foster 2, LaPointe 2, Munro, Rudolph, Taylor.
Goalies (Min.-goals allowed-saves) — Colorado: Oh (68-13-11). Northwestern: Cuocco (68-12-6).
