STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) - Taylor Thornton scored the winning goal with 9:55 left and Northwestern won its seventh NCAA women's lacrosse championship in eight years, beating Syracuse 8-6 on Sunday night.
Thornton got past defender Natalie Glennell and put a high shot past goaltender Alyssa Costantino.
Shannon Smith scored twice and had two assists for Northwestern (21-2). Last year in the final, Smith scored four goals in an 8-7 victory over Maryland.
Erin Fitzgerald also scored twice for the Wildcats, who rallied from a pair of 2-goal deficits in the first half. Casey Bocket, Jessica Russo and Amanda Macaluso added goals.
Katie Webster and Amy Cross scored Syracuse's first two goals in the opening 3 1/2 minutes. Sarah Holden, Kailah Kempney, Alyssa Murray and Michelle Tumolo also scored for the Orange (19-4), appearing in their first championship game.
The Wildcats overcame early deficits of 2-0 and 4-2 by scoring four straight goals in the final 8:45 of the first half and the first 10:56 of the second. Smith scored twice in that span, and set up Bocklet's tying goal.
Syracuse came back after losing nine straight draw controls and ended a 21-minute scoreless stretch when Murray scored with 18:19 remaining. A little over 7 minutes later, Tumolo cleared it out of her own end and scored on a wraparound.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:53 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:53:03 GMT
Jeff Keppinger drove in the winning run on a single in the 11th and John Danks was solid in his season debut and the Chicago White Sox beat the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Friday night.
Jeff Keppinger drove in the winning run on a single in the 11th and John Danks was solid in his season debut and the Chicago White Sox beat the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Friday night.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:19 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:19:42 GMT
Joey Votto extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a homer, and Ryan Hanigan and Brandon Phillips also homered on Friday night, powering the Cincinnati Reds to their fourth straight win.
Joey Votto extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a homer, and Ryan Hanigan and Brandon Phillips also homered on Friday night, powering the Cincinnati Reds to their fourth straight win, 7-4 over the Chicago Cubs.
Friday, May 24 2013 1:09 PM EDT2013-05-24 17:09:25 GMT
Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on a rainy Thursday for their fourth straight win.
Andrew McCutchen had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on a rainy Thursday for their fourth straight win.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:00 AM EDT2013-05-24 14:00:34 GMT
The Chicago Bears will retire former head coach Mike Ditka's No. 89. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end's number will be officially retired during halftime at the Bears' Monday Night Football game Dec. 9.
The Chicago Bears will retire former head coach Mike Ditka's No. 89. The Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end's number will be officially retired during halftime at the Bears' Monday Night Football game Dec. 9.
Thursday, May 23 2013 11:03 PM EDT2013-05-24 03:03:30 GMT
After losing Game 1, the seventh-seeded Red Wings have surged into control of the second round series by handing Chicago its first three-game losing streak of the year.
After losing Game 1, the seventh-seeded Red Wings have surged into control of the second round series by handing Chicago its first three-game losing streak of the year.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:26 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:26:38 GMT
Clay Buchholz pitched five-hit ball over seven innings to improve to 7-0, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Clay Buchholz pitched five-hit ball over seven innings to improve to 7-0, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 Wednesday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Wednesday, March 27 2013 11:28 PM EDT2013-03-28 03:28:13 GMT
Northwestern hired longtime Duke assistant Chris Collins as its basketball coach Tuesday night, hoping he can finally lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament.
Northwestern hired longtime Duke assistant Chris Collins as its basketball coach Tuesday night, hoping he can finally lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament.
Sunday, April 28 2013 5:27 PM EDT2013-04-28 21:27:09 GMT
The Big Ten conference is going with "East" and "West" instead and switching to a nine-game scheduling format after presidents and chancellors approved the moves on Sunday.
The Big Ten conference is going with "East" and "West" instead and switching to a nine-game scheduling format after presidents and chancellors approved the moves on Sunday.
Thursday, March 7 2013 4:40 PM EST2013-03-07 21:40:38 GMT
Morgan Johnson and Jamie Printy scored 18 points apiece and Iowa defeated Northwestern 60-55 on Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten women's tournament.
Morgan Johnson and Jamie Printy scored 18 points apiece and Iowa defeated Northwestern 60-55 on Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten women's tournament.
