EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 2 seeded Penn State women's lacrosse was edged by top-seeded Northwestern in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game, 14-12 in Evanston, Ill. Saturday evening.
The Nittany Lions made history as the third team in program history to advance to the title game (2015, 2018). Kayla Abernathy, Kristin O'Neill, Gretchen Gilmore and Ellie Hollin all made the All-Tournament team.
Penn State moves to 11-7 (4-2 Big Ten), while Northwestern improves to 15-2 (5-1 Big Ten).
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter – Penn State 4, Northwestern 1
The Nittany Lions got on the board first thanks to a Gretchen Gilmore goal. Just a minute later, Kristin O'Neill put Penn State up by two. Kara Nealon assisted on both goals.
Northwestern got their first goal of the game at the 7:03 mark.
Brooke Hoss and Kelly MacKinney both found the back of the cage before the end of the quarter for an early Nittany Lion lead.
Second Quarter – Penn State 5, Northwestern 6
Northwestern scored five answered goals in the second quarter, holding Penn State to one goal by Gilmore.
Third Quarter – Penn State 6, Northwestern 12
The Wildcats got to the cage on six more occasions, holding Penn State once again to one goal by Gilmore.
Fourth Quarter – Penn State 12, Northwestern 14
Penn State scored three consecutive goals by Lauren Saltz, Kayla Abernathy and Gilmore to cut Northwestern's lead to three.
The Wildcats scored twice, and Meghan Murray found the back of the cage before the game was delayed for nearly one hour with 90 seconds left.
Saltz and Gilmore scored quickly out of the delay after the remainder of the game was moved indoors, but Northwestern was able to capture the title.
GAME NOTES
>> Gilmore led the offense with a career high with eight points (five goals, one assist).
>> Saltz registered two goals, while O'Neill, MacKinney, Abernathy, Murray and Hoss all notched one goal each.
>> The offense collected nine assists in the game, a season high. K. Nealon claimed six of the assists.
>> Goalkeeper Sydney Manning registered eight saves in the 60 minutes.
>> The defense scooped up 11 groundballs and caused eight turnovers.
>> Hollin tied a season-high three caused turnovers in the game.
UP NEXT
Penn State will see who they will face in the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Sunday, May 5 at 9:00 p.m. in the NCAA Selection Show.
