Northwestern Upsets Boston College 12-11 in NCAA Semifinals

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a thrilling NCAA Division 1 women’s lacrosse semifinal on Friday night, third-seeded Northwestern defeated second-seeded Boston College 12-11, ending the Eagles’ hope for back-to-back titles.

After trailing by five goals entering the fourth quarter, Northwestern mounted a stunning comeback with six unanswered goals to punch their ticket to the championship game. Madison Taylor led the Wildcats (19-2) with four goals and four assists, including the decisive pass to Sam Smith, who scored the game-winner with 5:26 remaining.

Last year’s national champions, the Eagles (19-3), had entered the match hoping to defend their title. The game also showcased two players competing for the NCAA’s single-season goal record: BC’s Rachel Clark with 103 goals and Taylor with 105.

Nursing a steady rain and cold temperatures, both teams started strong. Northwestern took a quick lead at 3-0 thanks to Taylor’s initial goal followed by two from Niki Miles. The Eagles responded with Mckenna Davis scoring for BC, narrowing the gap to 3-1.

After Riley Campbell extended Northwestern’s lead to 4-1, Clark struck back with two goals, pulling Boston College within one at 4-3. The Eagles finally equalized in the second quarter when Emma LoPinto scored off a pass from Davis.

Northwestern again surged ahead with Taylor’s goal, but BC eventually took a 7-6 lead into halftime after goals from Clark, Davis, and Mallory Hasselbeck.

In the third quarter, the Eagles dominated, holding the Wildcats scoreless and establishing an 11-6 lead with goals from four different players. However, Northwestern was resilient, channeling their underdog status into energy for the final period.

“We really tried to utilize that to fuel us,” said Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who motivated her team all week. The strategy worked as the Wildcats turned momentum in the fourth quarter, silencing the Eagles and securing six consecutive goals.

As the clock wound down, BC’s goalie Shea Dolce made crucial saves, but the Eagles couldn’t convert on vital opportunities, including a potential equalizer in the final seconds. Ultimately, they suffered the shock of missing out on the title game for the first time since 2016.

“Every girl on this team fought and scrapped every day,” said BC’s Shea Baker after the heartbreaking loss. Northwestern will face top-seeded North Carolina in the championship game on Sunday at 12 noon.